PPL Corp: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2023

General

(All Registrants)

PPL, headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a utility holding company, incorporated in 1994. 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 at December 31, 2023 are shown below (* denotes a Registrant).

PPL Corporation*

PPL Capital Funding Provides financing for the operations of PPL and certain subsidiaries

PPL Electric* Engages in the regulated transmission and distribution of electricity in Pennsylvania LKE A holding company that owns regulated utility operations through its subsidiaries, LG&E and KU RIE Engages 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, 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, 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. LG&E was incorporated in 1913.

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. KU was incorporated in Kentucky in 1912 and in Virginia in 1991.

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" primarily includes corporate level financing costs, certain unallocated costs, and certain non-recoverable costs incurred in conjunction with the acquisition of Narragansett Electric and the financial results of Safari Energy, prior to its sale on November 1, 2022.

Beginning on January 1, 2023, the Kentucky Regulated segment consists primarily of the regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations conducted by LG&E and KU, as well as LG&E's regulated distribution and sale of natural gas. Prior to January 1, 2023, the Kentucky Regulated segment also included the financing activities of LKE. 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. As a result, PPL’s segments consist of its regulated operations in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island and exclude any incremental financing activities of holding companies, which Management believes is a more meaningful presentation as it provides information on the core regulated operations of PPL.

A comparison of PPL's Regulated segments is shown below.

(a) Represents capitalization for Kentucky Regulated and rate base for Pennsylvania Regulated and Rhode Island Regulated. The amount for Rhode Island Regulated excludes acquisition-related adjustments for non-earning assets.

See Note 2 to the Financial Statements for additional financial information by segment. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements for additional revenue information.

(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)

PPL Electric has two operating segments, distribution and transmission, which are aggregated into a single reportable segment. Each of LG&E and KU operates as a single operating and reportable segment.

Kentucky Regulated Segment (PPL)

The Kentucky Regulated segment consists primarily of the regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations conducted by LG&E and KU, as well as LG&E's regulated distribution and sale of natural gas.

(PPL, LG&E and KU)

LG&E and KU are engaged in the regulated generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity in Kentucky and, in KU's case, also Virginia. LG&E also engages in the distribution and sale of natural gas in Kentucky. LG&E provides electric service to approximately 436,000 customers in Louisville and adjacent areas in Kentucky, covering approximately 700 square miles in nine counties and provides natural gas service to approximately 335,000 customers in its electric service area and eight additional counties in Kentucky. KU provides electric service to approximately 545,000 customers in 77 counties in central, southeastern and western Kentucky and approximately 28,000 customers in five counties in southwestern Virginia, covering approximately 4,800 non-contiguous square miles. KU also sells wholesale electricity to two municipalities in Kentucky under load following contracts.

Franchises and Licenses

LG&E and KU provide electricity delivery service, and LG&E provides natural gas distribution service, in their respective service territories pursuant to certain franchises, licenses, statutory service areas, easements and other rights or permissions granted by state legislatures, cities or municipalities or other entities.

Competition

There are currently no other electric public utilities operating within the electric service areas of LG&E and KU. From time to time, bills are introduced into the Kentucky General Assembly which seek to authorize, promote or mandate increased distributed generation, customer choice or other developments. Neither the Kentucky General Assembly nor the KPSC has adopted or approved a plan or timetable for retail electric industry competition in Kentucky. The nature or timing of legislative or regulatory actions, if any, regarding industry restructuring and their impact on LG&E and KU, which may be significant, cannot currently be predicted. Virginia, formerly a deregulated jurisdiction, has enacted legislation that implemented a hybrid model of cost-based regulation. KU's operations in Virginia have been and remain regulated.

Alternative energy sources such as electricity, oil, propane and other fuels indirectly impact LG&E's natural gas revenues. Marketers may also compete to sell natural gas to certain large end-users. LG&E's natural gas tariffs include gas price pass-through mechanisms relating to its sale of natural gas as a commodity. Therefore, customer natural gas purchases from alternative suppliers do not generally impact LG&E's profitability. Some large industrial and commercial customers, however, may physically bypass LG&E's facilities and seek delivery service directly from interstate pipelines or other natural gas distribution systems.

Power Supply

At December 31, 2023, LG&E owned generating capacity of 2,760 MW and KU owned generating capacity of 4,775 MW. See "Item 2. Properties - Kentucky Regulated Segment" for a complete list of generating facilities.

The system capacity of LG&E's and KU's owned generation is based upon several factors, including the operating experience and physical condition of the units, and may be revised periodically to reflect changes in circumstances.

During 2023, LG&E's and KU's power plants generated the following amounts of electricity:

(a) This generation represents a decrease for LG&E of 4% and a decrease for KU of 8% from 2022 output.

The majority of LG&E's and KU's generated electricity was used to supply their retail customer bases.

LG&E and KU jointly dispatch their generation units with the lowest cost generation used to serve their customers. When LG&E has excess generation capacity after serving its own customers and its generation cost is lower than that of KU, KU purchases electricity from LG&E and vice versa.

Due to environmental requirements and energy efficiency measures, as of December 31, 2023, LG&E and KU have retired approximately 1,200 MW of coal-fired generation plants since 2010.

LG&E and KU received approval from the KPSC to develop a 4 MW Solar Share facility to service a Solar Share program. The Solar Share program is a voluntary program that allows customers to subscribe capacity in the Solar Share facility. Construction commences, in 500-kilowatt phases, when subscription is complete. Construction of five 500-kilowatt phases was completed as of December 31, 2022. LG&E and KU continue to market the program and are accepting subscriptions for the sixth 500-kilowatt phase.

On January 23, 2020, LG&E and KU applied to the KPSC for approval of arrangements relating to the purchase of 100 MW of solar power in connection with the Green Tariff option established in the 2018 Kentucky base rate cases. Pursuant to the agreements, LG&E and KU would purchase the initial 20 years of output of a proposed third-party solar generation facility and resell the bulk of the power as renewable energy to two large industrial customers and use the remaining power for other customers. The generation facility is currently expected to be operational in early 2025. In 2020, the KPSC approved LG&E’s and KU’s applications. PPL, LG&E and KU do not anticipate that these arrangements will have a significant impact on their results of operations or financial condition.

On October 6, 2021, LG&E and KU entered into an agreement to purchase the initial 20 years of output of a proposed 125 MW third-party solar generation facility in connection with the Green Tariff option established in the 2018 Kentucky base rate cases. Pursuant to the agreements, LG&E and KU would purchase output of the facility and resell power as renewable energy to certain large customers. The generation facility is currently expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2026. PPL, LG&E and KU do not anticipate that this agreement will have a significant impact on their results of operations or financial condition.

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 KPSC order included approval of the requested retirements of two existing coal-fired generation units at LG&E's Mill Creek Unit 1 (300 MW) and 2 (297 MW) in 2024 and 2027, subject to certain conditions, and three small gas-fired units. The order denied approval of the retirement of KU's E.W. Brown 3 Unit (412 MW) and Ghent Unit 2 (486 MW) in 2028 at this time, citing the need for additional clarity regarding environmental compliance regulations.

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.

Fuel Supply

Coal and natural gas are expected to be the predominant fuels used by LG&E and KU for generation for the foreseeable future. Natural gas used for generation is primarily purchased using contractual arrangements separate from LG&E's natural gas distribution operations. Natural gas and oil are also used for intermediate and peaking capacity and flame stabilization in coal-fired boilers.

Fuel inventory is maintained at levels estimated to be necessary to avoid operational disruptions at coal-fired generating units. Reliability of coal deliveries can be affected from time to time by several factors including fluctuations in demand, coal mine production issues, high or low river level events, lock outages and other supplier or transporter operating or financial difficulties.

LG&E and KU have entered into coal supply agreements with various suppliers for coal deliveries through 2028 and augment their coal supply agreements with spot market purchases, as needed.

For their existing units, LG&E and KU expect, for the foreseeable future, to purchase most of their coal from western Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. LG&E and KU continue to purchase certain quantities of ultra-low sulfur content coal from Wyoming for blending at Trimble County Unit 2. Coal is delivered to the generating plants primarily by barge and rail.

To enhance the reliability of natural gas supply, LG&E and KU have secured firm long-term pipeline transport capacity services with contracts of various durations through 2056 on the interstate pipeline serving Cane Run Unit 7, six simple cycle combustion turbines at the Trimble County site, and the future Mill Creek Unit 5. This pipeline also serves the two simple cycle units at the Paddy's Run site. For the seven simple cycle combustion turbines at the E.W. Brown facility, no firm long-term pipeline transport capacity has been purchased due to the facility's connection to two interstate pipelines and some of the units having dual fuel capability.

LG&E and KU have firm contracts for a portion of the natural gas fuel for Cane Run Unit 7 through 2026. The bulk of the natural gas fuel is expected to be purchased on the spot market.

(PPL and LG&E)

Natural Gas Distribution Supply

Four underground natural gas storage fields in service, with a current working natural gas capacity of approximately 11 Bcf, are used to provide natural gas service to LG&E's firm sales customers. Natural gas is stored during the summer season for withdrawal during the following winter heating season. Without this storage capacity, LG&E would need to purchase additional natural gas and pipeline transportation services during winter months when customer demand increases, and the cost of natural gas supply and pipeline transportation services are expected to be higher. At December 31, 2023, LG&E had 9 Bcf of natural gas stored underground with a carrying value of $34 million. LG&E will continue work in 2024 on a multi-year project to retire a fifth underground natural gas storage field, which is no longer in service, and plans to complete the project by no later than 2025. This field had a working natural gas capacity of 4 Bcf.

LG&E has a portfolio of supply arrangements of varying durations and terms that provide competitively priced natural gas designed to meet its firm sales obligations. These natural gas supply arrangements include pricing provisions that are market-responsive. In tandem with pipeline transportation services, these natural gas supplies provide the reliability and flexibility necessary to serve LG&E's natural gas customers.

LG&E purchases natural gas supply transportation services from two pipelines. LG&E has a set of contracts with one pipeline that are subject to termination by LG&E between 2025 and 2028. Total winter season capacity under these contracts is 184,900 MMBtu/day and summer season capacity is 60,000 MMBtu/day. LG&E has two additional contracts with this same pipeline. One contract is for pipeline capacity through 2026 for 60,000 MMBtu/day during both the winter and summer seasons. The other contract is for pipeline capacity through 2028 for 30,000 MMBtu/day during the winter season. LG&E has a single contract with a second pipeline with a total capacity of 20,000 MMBtu/day during both the winter and summer seasons that expires in 2030.

LG&E expects to purchase natural gas supplies for its gas distribution operations from onshore producing regions in South Texas, East Texas, North Louisiana and Arkansas, as well as gas originating in the Marcellus and Utica production areas.

(PPL, LG&E and KU)

Transmission

LG&E and KU contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority to act as their transmission reliability coordinator and contract with TranServ International, Inc. to act as their independent transmission organization.

Rates

LG&E is subject to the jurisdiction of the KPSC and the FERC, and KU is subject to the jurisdiction of the KPSC, the FERC and the VSCC. LG&E and KU operate under a FERC-approved open access transmission tariff.

LG&E's and KU's Kentucky base rates are calculated based on a return on capitalization (common equity, long-term debt and short-term debt) including adjustments for certain net investments and costs recovered separately through other means. As such, LG&E and KU generally earn a return on regulatory assets in Kentucky.

KU's Virginia base rates are calculated based on a return on rate base (net utility plant plus working capital less accumulated deferred income taxes and miscellaneous deductions). As all regulatory assets and liabilities, except for regulatory assets and liabilities related to the levelized fuel factor, accumulated deferred income taxes, pension and postretirement benefits, and AROs related to certain CCR impoundments, are excluded from the return on rate base utilized in the calculation of Virginia base rates, no return is earned on the related assets.

KU's rates to two municipal customers for wholesale power requirements are calculated based on annual updates to a formula rate that utilizes a return on rate base (net utility plant plus working capital less accumulated deferred income taxes and miscellaneous deductions). As all regulatory assets and liabilities, except accumulated deferred income taxes, are excluded from the return on rate base utilized in the development of municipal rates, no return is earned on the related assets.

See "Financial and Operational Developments" in "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on current rate proceedings and rate mechanisms.

Pennsylvania Regulated Segment (PPL)

The Pennsylvania Regulated segment consists of PPL Electric, a regulated public utility engaged in the distribution and transmission of electricity.

(PPL and PPL Electric)

PPL Electric delivers electricity to approximately 1.5 million customers in a 10,000-square mile territory in 29 counties within eastern and central Pennsylvania. PPL Electric also provides electricity to retail customers in this territory as a PLR under the Customer Choice Act.

Franchise, Licenses and Other Regulations

PPL Electric is authorized to provide electric public utility service throughout its service area as a result of grants by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in corporate charters to PPL Electric and companies that it has succeeded, and as a result of certification by the PAPUC. PPL Electric is granted the right to enter the streets and highways by the Commonwealth subject to certain conditions. In general, such conditions have been met by ordinance, resolution, permit, acquiescence or other action by an appropriate local political subdivision or agency of the Commonwealth.

Competition

Pursuant to authorizations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the PAPUC, PPL Electric operates a regulated distribution monopoly in its service area. Accordingly, PPL Electric does not face competition in its electricity distribution business. Pursuant to the Customer Choice Act, generation of electricity is a competitive business in Pennsylvania, and PPL Electric does not own or operate any generation facilities.

The PPL Electric transmission business, operating under a FERC-approved PJM Open Access Transmission Tariff, is subject to competition pursuant to FERC Order 1000 from entities that are not incumbent PJM transmission owners with respect to the construction and ownership of transmission facilities within PJM.

Rates and Regulation

Transmission

PPL Electric's transmission facilities are within PJM, which operates the electricity transmission network and electric energy market in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the U.S.

PJM serves as a FERC-approved Regional Transmission Operator (RTO) to promote greater participation and competition in the region it serves. In addition to operating the electricity transmission network, PJM also administers regional markets for energy, capacity and ancillary services. A primary objective of any RTO is to separate the operation of, and access to, the transmission grid from market participants that buy or sell electricity in the same markets. Electric utilities continue to own the transmission assets and to receive their share of transmission revenues, but the RTO directs the control and operation of the transmission facilities. Certain types of transmission investments are subject to competitive processes outlined in the PJM tariff.

PPL Electric's transmission revenues are billed in accordance with a FERC-approved Open Access Transmission Tariff that utilizes a formula-based rate recovery mechanism. Under this formula, beginning in 2023, rates are put into effect on January 1st of each year based upon actual expenditures from the most recently filed FERC Form 1, forecasted capital additions, and other data based on PPL Electric’s books and records. 2023 is considered a transitional period as the calendar year rate approved by FERC became effective April 1, 2023. Rates are compared during the year to the estimated annual expenses and capital additions that will be filed in PPL Electric’s annual FERC Form 1, filed under the FERC's Uniform System of Accounts. Under the mechanism, any difference between the revenue requirement in effect and actual expenditures incurred for that year is recorded as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability, and the regulatory asset or regulatory liability is to be recovered from or returned to customers starting one year after the conclusion of the rate year.

As a PLR, PPL Electric also purchases transmission services from PJM. See "PLR" below.

See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on rate mechanisms and regulatory matters.

Distribution

PPL Electric's distribution base rates are calculated based on a return on rate base (net utility plant plus a cash working capital allowance less plant-related deferred taxes and other miscellaneous additions and deductions). All regulatory assets and liabilities, except accumulated deferred income taxes, are excluded from the return on rate base. Therefore, no return is earned on the related assets unless specifically provided for by the PAPUC. Currently, PPL Electric's Smart Meter rider and the DSIC are the only riders authorized to earn a return. Certain operating expenses are also included in PPL Electric's distribution base rates including wages and benefits, other operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation and taxes.

Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) requires electric distribution companies and electricity generation suppliers to obtain from alternative energy resources a portion of the electricity sold to retail customers in Pennsylvania. Under the default service procurement plans approved by the PAPUC, PPL Electric purchases all of the alternative energy generation supply it needs to comply with the AEPS.

Act 129 created an energy efficiency and conservation program, a demand side management program, smart metering technology requirements, new PLR generation supply procurement rules, remedies for market misconduct and changes to the existing AEPS.

Act 11 authorizes the PAPUC to approve two specific ratemaking mechanisms: the use of a fully projected future test year in base rate proceedings and, subject to certain conditions, the use of a DSIC. Such alternative ratemaking procedures and mechanisms provide opportunity for accelerated cost-recovery and, therefore, are important to PPL Electric as it is in a period of significant capital investment to maintain and enhance the reliability of its delivery system, including the replacement of aging assets. PPL Electric utilized the fully projected future test year mechanism in its 2015 base rate proceeding. PPL has had the ability to utilize the DSIC recovery mechanism since July 2013.

See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on rate mechanisms and legislative and regulatory matters.

PLR

The Customer Choice Act requires electric distribution companies, including PPL Electric, or an alternative supplier approved by the PAPUC, to act as a PLR of electricity supply for customers who do not choose to shop for supply with a competitive supplier and provides that electricity supply costs will be recovered by the PLR pursuant to PAPUC regulations. In 2023, the following average percentages of PPL Electric's customer load were provided by competitive suppliers: 42% of residential, 80% of small commercial and industrial and 97% of large commercial and industrial customers.

PPL Electric’s electricity generation costs are established based upon the results of a competitive solicitation process. In December 2020, the PAPUC approved PPL Electric’s default service plan for the period June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2025, which includes a total of eight solicitations for electricity supply held semiannually in April and October. Through December 31, 2023, six auctions of the plan were completed. This plan also includes eight solicitations for alternative energy credits held semiannually in January and July. Through January 2024, six alternative energy credit solicitations have been completed.

Pursuant to the plans, PPL Electric contracts for all of the electricity supply for residential, commercial and industrial customers who elect to take default service from PPL Electric. These solicitations contain a mix of products including 5-year block energy contracts for residential customers, 6- and 12-month fixed-price load-following contracts for residential and small commercial and industrial customers, 12-month real-time pricing contracts for large commercial and industrial customers, and alternative energy credit contracts for residential, commercial and industrial customers. These contracts fulfill PPL Electric's obligation to provide customer electricity supply as a PLR.

Numerous alternative suppliers have offered to provide generation supply in PPL Electric's service area. As the cost of generation supply is a pass-through cost for PPL Electric, its financial results are not impacted if its customers purchase electricity supply from these alternative suppliers.

Rhode Island Regulated Segment (PPL)

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.

RIE is engaged in the regulated transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and regulated distribution and sale of natural gas in Rhode Island. RIE provides electric service to approximately 514,000 customers and natural gas service to approximately 278,000 customers. RIE's service area covers substantially all of Rhode Island.

Franchises and Licenses

RIE provides electricity delivery service and natural gas distribution service in its service territory pursuant to certain franchises, licenses, statutory service areas, easements and other rights or permissions granted by the Rhode Island state legislature, cities or municipalities or other entities.

Competition

There are currently no other electric or gas public utilities operating within the service area of RIE.

Alternative energy sources such as electricity, oil, propane and other fuels indirectly impact RIE's natural gas revenues. Marketers may also compete to sell natural gas to certain large end-users. RIE's natural gas tariffs include gas price pass-through mechanisms relating to its sale of natural gas as a commodity. Therefore, customer natural gas purchases from alternative suppliers do not generally impact RIE's profitability. Some large industrial and commercial customers, however, may physically bypass RIE's facilities and seek delivery service directly from interstate pipelines or other natural gas distribution systems.

Rates and Regulation

In general, RIE operates subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC, the RIPUC and the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.

Distribution

RIE owns and maintains electric and natural gas distribution networks in Rhode Island. Distribution revenues are primarily from the sale of electricity, natural gas, and related services to retail customers. Distribution sales are regulated by the RIPUC, which is responsible for approving the rates and other terms of services as part of the rate making process. Natural gas and electric distribution revenues are derived from the regulated sale and distribution of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers within RIE’s service territory under the tariff rates. The tariff rates approved by the RIPUC are designed to recover the costs incurred by RIE for products and services provided, along with a return on investment.

RIE’s distribution base rates are calculated based on a return on rate base (net utility plant plus a cash working capital allowance less plant-related deferred taxes and other miscellaneous additions and deductions). All regulatory assets and liabilities, except accumulated deferred income taxes, are excluded from the return on rate base. Therefore, no return is earned on the related assets unless specifically provided for by the RIPUC. Currently, RIE's ISR and Renewable Energy Growth Program adjustment mechanisms are the only mechanisms authorized to earn a return. Certain operating expenses are also included in RIE’s distribution base rates including wages and benefits, other operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation, and taxes.

Transmission

RIE owns an electric transmission system in Rhode Island. RIE’s transmission services are regulated by the FERC and coordinated with ISO – New England.

Deferral Mechanisms

RIE records revenues in accordance with accounting principles for rate-regulated operations for arrangements between RIE and the applicable regulator. These include various deferral mechanisms such as capital trackers, energy efficiency programs, and other programs that qualify as Alternative Revenue Programs (ARPs). ARPs enable RIE to adjust rates in the future, in response to past activities or completed events. RIE’s electric and gas distribution rates both have a revenue decoupling mechanism, which allows for annual adjustments to the RIE’s delivery rates, as a result of the reconciliation between allowed revenue and billed revenue. RIE also has other ARPs related to the achievement of certain objectives, demand side management initiatives, and certain other rate making mechanisms. RIE recognizes ARPs with a corresponding offset to a regulatory asset or liability account when the regulatory specified events or conditions have been met, when the amounts are determinable, and are probable of recovery (or payment) through future rate adjustments.

Last Resort Service

RIE is required by the RIPUC and by statute to provide Last Resort Service. Last Resort Service is available to all customers who have not elected to receive their electric supply from a non-regulated power producer or any customer who, for any reason, has stopped receiving generation service from a non-regulated power producer.

The charge for Last Resort Service is the sum of the applicable Last Resort Service charges in addition to all appropriate Retail Delivery charges as stated in the applicable tariff. The monthly charge for Last Resort Service also includes the costs incurred by RIE to comply with the Renewable Energy Standard, established in Rhode Island General Laws Section 39-26-1 and the costs to comply with the RIPUC’s Rules Governing Energy Source Disclosure. The charge for Last Resort Service includes the administrative costs associated with the procurement of Last Resort Service, including an adjustment for uncollectible accounts as approved by the RIPUC.

Numerous alternative suppliers have offered to provide generation supply in RIE's service area. As the cost of generation supply is a pass-through cost for RIE, its financial results are not impacted if its customers purchase electricity supply from these alternative suppliers.

See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on rate mechanisms and regulatory matters.

Natural Gas Distribution Supply

To meet the projected annual gas supply requirements of approximately 37 Bcf, RIE has a portfolio of gas supply arrangements of varying contractual terms and durations to provide service to its customers. These natural gas supply arrangements include contracts with natural gas producers and marketers that reflect market price signals. RIE also has firm pipeline and underground storage capacity contracts to support the delivery of natural gas supplies to its customers. To manage the winter peak requirements for RIE customers, RIE contracts for liquified natural gas (LNG) service and owns and operates certain LNG storage facilities.

The RIE gas supply portfolio includes contracts for firm transportation service with eleven interstate pipeline companies and natural gas storage operators. These contracts have various termination dates with certain contracts being subject to evergreen renewal provisions providing RIE with flexibility in managing its upstream resource portfolio.

RIE has purchased and expects to continue to purchase natural gas supplies for its gas distribution operations from onshore producing regions accessed by its pipeline capacity portfolio in South Texas, East Texas, and Louisiana, as well as gas originating in the Marcellus and Utica production areas. RIE expects to purchase certain natural gas supplies that originate in Canada and from regional LNG import terminals.

Corporate and Other (PPL)

PPL Services provides PPL subsidiaries with administrative, management and support services. The costs of these services are charged directly to the respective recipients for the services provided or indirectly charged to applicable recipients based on an average of the recipients' relative invested capital, operation and maintenance expenses and number of employees or a ratio of overall direct and indirect costs.

PPL Capital Funding provides financing for the operations of PPL and certain subsidiaries. PPL's growth in rate-regulated businesses provides the organization with an enhanced corporate level financing alternative, through PPL Capital Funding, that enables PPL to cost effectively support targeted credit profiles across all of PPL's rated companies. As a result, PPL utilizes PPL Capital Funding as a source of capital in financings, in addition to continued direct financing by certain operating subsidiaries. Unlike those of PPL Services, PPL Capital Funding's costs are not generally charged to PPL subsidiaries. Costs are charged directly to PPL.

Beginning in 2023, the financing activity of LKE is included in Corporate and Other. Prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this change.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

(All Registrants)

The Registrants are subject to certain existing and developing federal, regional, state and local laws and regulations with respect to air and water quality, land use and other environmental matters, and may be subject to different and more stringent laws and regulations enacted in the future. The EPA and other federal agencies with jurisdiction over environmental matters have issued numerous environmental regulations relating to air, water and waste that directly affect the electric power industry. Due to these environmental issues, it may be necessary for the Registrants to modify or cease certain operations or operation of certain facilities to comply with statutes, regulations and other requirements of regulatory bodies or courts. In addition, legal challenges to environmental permits or rules add uncertainty to estimating future costs of complying with such permits and rules. The Biden administration is currently undertaking changes in a wide range of environmental programs.

See “Legal Matters” in Note 13 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of environmental commitments and contingencies. 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.

LG&E and KU are entitled to recover, through the ECR mechanism, 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 upon KPSC review. Costs not covered by the ECR mechanism for LG&E and KU and all such costs for PPL Electric and RIE are subject to rate recovery at the discretion of the companies' respective state regulatory authorities, or the FERC, if applicable. Because PPL Electric and RIE do not own any generating plants, they have less exposure to related environmental compliance costs. The Registrants can provide no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of future proceedings before regulatory authorities.

Air

(PPL, LG&E and KU)

NAAQS

Applicable regulations require each state to identify areas within its boundaries that fail to meet the NAAQS, (known as nonattainment areas), and develop a state implementation plan to achieve and maintain compliance. States that are found to contribute significantly to another state's nonattainment with ozone standards are required to establish "good neighbor" state implementation plans. In addition, for attainment of ozone and fine particulates standards, certain states, including Kentucky, are subject to a regional EPA program known as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR).

The Clean Air Act has a significant impact on the operation of fossil fuel generation plants. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA periodically to establish and review NAAQS for six pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone (contributed to by nitrogen oxide emissions), particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. In December 2020, the EPA released final actions keeping the existing NAAQS standard for particulate matter and ozone without change, but the EPA subsequently announced reconsideration of those decisions in June 2021. On February 7, 2024, the EPA released a pre-publication revision to the particulate matter standard that lowers the primary standard for fine particulates. Based on the new standard, the EPA could potentially designate Jefferson County, Kentucky (Louisville) as being in nonattainment with the new particulate matter standard and require additional particulate matter reductions from sources including LG&E’s Mill Creek Station. The new particulate matter standard may also result in more stringent requirements for new generation located in nonattainment areas. PPL, LG&E, and KU are unable to predict future implementation actions or the outcome of future evaluations by the EPA and the states with respect to the NAAQS standards.

In January 2018, the EPA designated Jefferson County, Kentucky (Louisville) as being in nonattainment with the existing 2015 ozone standard. In 2020 and 2021, LG&E entered into agreements with the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District for temporary nitrogen oxide emission limits at LG&E's Mill Creek Station during those years to facilitate compliance with the ozone standard. In October 2022, Jefferson County was “bumped up” to the moderate nonattainment classification, but the Louisville Air Pollution Control District has applied to the EPA for Jefferson County to be redesignated as in attainment. If the EPA declines to issue such a redesignation, Jefferson County could be subject to additional requirements including requirements for installation of reasonably available control technology on coal-fired generating units. Compliance with such requirements may require installation of additional pollution controls or other compliance actions. PPL and LG&E are unable to determine the impact on operations until certain compliance determinations are made by the EPA and Kentucky.

In March 2021, the EPA released final revisions to the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) aimed at ensuring compliance with the 2008 ozone NAAQS and providing for reductions in ozone season nitrogen oxide emissions for 2021 and subsequent years. Additionally, the EPA reversed its previous approval of the Kentucky State Implementation Plan with respect to these requirements. In March 2023, the EPA Administrator released a final Federal Implementation Plan under the Good Neighbor provisions of the Clean Air Act providing for significant additional nitrogen oxide emission reductions for compliance with the revised 2015 ozone NAAQS. The reductions in Kentucky state-wide nitrogen oxide budgets were scheduled to commence in 2023, with the largest reductions planned for 2026, based on the installation time frame for certain selective catalytic reduction controls, subject to future specific allowance calculations. PPL, LG&E and KU are currently assessing the potential impact of the Good Neighbor Plan revisions on operations. The rules provide for reduced availability of nitrogen oxide allowances that have historically permitted operational flexibility for fossil units and could potentially result in constraints that may require implementation of additional emission controls or accelerate implementation of lower emission generation technologies. In response to judicial orders that stayed the EPA’s denial of certain state implementation plans, the EPA in July 2023 issued an interim stay of implementation of Good Neighbor Plan requirements for emission sources in several states including Kentucky. Legal challenges to CSAPR and related determinations remain pending, and the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on numerous stay applications filed by states and industry groups over the Good Neighbor Plan. In January 2023, the EPA released a proposed revision to increase the stringency of the current NAAQS for particulate matter. The EPA is continuing review of its previous determinations made in December 2020 to retain the existing NAAQS for ozone without change.

PPL, LG&E, and KU are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of pending litigation or future emission reductions that may be required by future federal rules or state implementation actions. Compliance with the NAAQS, CSAPR, Good Neighbor Plan, and related requirements may require installation of additional pollution controls or other compliance actions, inclusive of retirements, the costs of which PPL, LG&E and KU believe would be subject to rate recovery.

Proposed Modification of Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

In 2012, the EPA issued the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule requiring reductions in mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from fossil fuel-fired power plants. LG&E and KU installed significant controls to achieve compliance with MATS and other rules. In April 2023, the EPA proposed to increase the stringency of MATS and further reduce emissions of certain hazardous air pollutants by reducing certain particulate matter standards by approximately two-thirds to reflect developments in control technologies. While the exact impact will depend on the provisions adopted in the final rule, PPL, LG&E, and KU do not expect significant operational changes or additional controls. PPL, LG&E, and KU will continue to monitor the ongoing rulemaking process.

Proposed Greenhouse Gas Standards

On May 11, 2023, the EPA released proposed rules under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act to establish performance standards and emissions limits aimed at reducing GHG emissions from certain new, existing, and modified fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs). The proposed standards would require phased implementation of carbon mitigation technologies including state-of-the-art efficiency requirements, carbon capture and sequestration, low GHG hydrogen co-firing, and natural gas co-firing. New natural gas EGUs would be immediately subject to the stricter efficiency standard. The EPA’s proposed new GHG reduction requirements, if adopted, could potentially require significant additional compliance measures including changes in current operations, installation of capital equipment, and early retirement of certain coal-fired generating units. PPL, LG&E, and KU are unable to predict the precise impact of new GHG reduction requirements until issuance of final rules and resolution of related legal and regulatory proceedings. While the impact of new GHG reduction requirements on operations and financial results of operations could potentially be substantial, the cost of complying with such requirements is expected to be subject to rate recovery. PPL, LG&E, and KU will continue to monitor the ongoing rulemaking process.

Climate Change (All Registrants)

The Biden administration continues to undertake wide-ranging efforts to address climate change. Recent government actions and policy developments, including the President’s announced goal of a carbon free electricity sector by 2035, could have far-reaching impacts on PPL’s business operations, products, and services. On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that provisions of the EPA's Clean Power Plan, premised on generation shifting from coal-fired plants to lower emitting natural gas-fired plants and renewables, exceeded the authority granted to the EPA under the Clean Air Act. The EPA has announced proposed new greenhouse gas rules discussed above. It is uncertain how the U.S. Supreme Court ruling may impact future EPA rulemaking. All of these developments are preliminary or ongoing in nature and the Registrants cannot predict the final outcome or ultimate impact on operations.

PPL has adopted a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which PPL expects will include continuing to retire coal-fired generation and investing in research and innovation that will help to achieve this goal, while maintaining reliable and affordable energy in our service territories. The net-zero goal relates to direct and indirect carbon emissions consistent with Greenhouse Gas Protocol guidance and referenced by the EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership. Through 2021, PPL reduced carbon emissions nearly 60% from 2010 levels and is targeting a 70% reduction from 2010 levels by 2035 and an 80% reduction by 2040.

PPL is also aware of the various risks associated with climate change, including increased frequency and severity of severe weather. To address these risks, PPL continues to work to advance grid modernization and improve the Company's equipment to help mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events and improve reliability.

Water/Waste (PPL, LG&E and KU)

Clean Water Act

Regulations under the federal Clean Water Act dictate permitting and mitigation requirements for facilities and construction projects that impact "Waters of the United States". Many other requirements relate to power plant operations, including the treatment of pollutants in effluents prior to discharge, the temperature of effluent discharges and the location, design and construction of cooling water intake structures at generating facilities, and standards intended to protect aquatic organisms that become trapped at or pulled through cooling water intake structures at generating facilities. These requirements could impose significant costs for LG&E and KU, which are expected to be subject to rate recovery.

Clean Water Act Jurisdiction

Environmental groups and others have claimed that discharges to groundwater from leaking CCR impoundments at power plants are subject to Clean Water Act permitting. On April 12, 2019, the EPA released regulatory clarification finding that Clean Water Act jurisdiction does not cover such discharges to groundwater. On January 23, 2020, the EPA announced a final rule modifying the jurisdictional scope of the Clean Water Act. The announced rule revises the definition of the "Waters of the United States," including a revision to exclude groundwater from the definition. In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that Clean Water Act jurisdiction may apply to certain discharges to groundwater that result in the functional equivalent of a direct discharge to navigable waters. PPL, LG&E, and KU are unaware of any unpermitted releases from their facilities that are subject to Clean Water Act jurisdiction, but future regulatory developments and judicial rulings could potentially subject certain releases from CCR impoundments and landfills to additional permitting and remediation requirements, which could impose substantial costs. Any associated costs are expected to be subject to rate recovery. PPL, LG&E and KU are unable to predict the outcome or financial impact of future regulatory proceedings and litigation.

Waters of the U.S.

PPL, LG&E, and KU are subject to permitting and mitigation requirements for certain construction activities that impact "Waters of the United States." On April 21, 2020, the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a final rule revising the definition of "Waters of the United States" to exclude jurisdiction over certain surface waters. On August 30, 2021, a U.S. District Court in Arizona vacated and remanded the rule. On December 7, 2021, the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed to repeal the rule and restore the definition of "Waters of the United States" that was in place prior to 2015. On January 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court granted review of a case raising the issue of the appropriate scope of the definition of "Waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. On January 18, 2023, the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a final revision to the rule broadening the definition of Waters of the United States and reverting to the pre-2015 regulatory framework. Although the broader definition incorporates additional water bodies, any resulting permitting, construction, and operational expenses are expected to be immaterial and subject to rate recovery.

On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in Sackett v. EPA holding that the government’s jurisdiction to regulate wetlands under the Clean Water Act extends to wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are "waters of the United States." On September 8, 2023, the EPA issued a conforming rule that incorporated the holding of Sackett into federal definitions of waters of the United States; some states and industry groups have challenged the conforming rule as well. By limiting water bodies that fall within the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision could reduce the number of projects or the scope of project activities subject to federal permitting for wetlands. PPL, LG&E and KU are unable to predict the outcome of current or future litigation or regulatory proceedings, but do not expect a material impact on operations.

Superfund and Other Remediation (All Registrants)

From time to time, PPL's subsidiaries undertake testing, monitoring or remedial action in response to spills or other releases at various on-site and off-site locations, negotiate with the EPA and state and local agencies regarding actions necessary to comply with applicable requirements, negotiate with property owners and other third parties alleging impacts from PPL's operations and undertake similar actions necessary to resolve environmental matters that arise in the course of normal operations. Based on analyses to date, resolution of these environmental matters is not expected to have a significant adverse impact on the operations of PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU.

Future cleanup or remediation work at sites not yet identified may result in significant additional costs for the Registrants. Insurance policies maintained by LG&E and KU may be available to cover certain of the costs or other obligations related to these matters, but the amount of insurance coverage or reimbursement cannot be estimated or assured.

See “Legal Matters” in Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information.

(All Registrants)

SEASONALITY

The demand for and market prices of electricity and natural gas are affected by weather. As a result, the Registrants' operating results in the future may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis, especially when unpredictable weather conditions make such fluctuations more pronounced. The pattern of this fluctuation may change depending on the type and location of the facilities owned.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

See "Financial Condition" in "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for this information.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS

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 concerning projected capital expenditure requirements for 2024 through 2026. See "Item 1. Business - Environmental Matters" for additional information concerning the potential impact on capital expenditures from environmental matters.

HUMAN CAPITAL

PPL, together with its subsidiaries, is committed to fostering an exceptional workplace for employees. PPL pledges to enable the success of its current and future workforce by cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, fostering professional development, encouraging employee engagement, and ensuring a safe and healthy work environment. Matters related to these priorities and corporate culture are overseen by PPL's senior management, which provides updates to the PPL Board of Directors (the Board). Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors also periodically reviews and assesses the Company's strategy for human capital management. PPL's investment in the success of its workforce is embodied in the following areas with dedicated leadership and Board oversight:

• Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) - Foster an inclusive, respectful and diverse workplace through a comprehensive DEI strategy and commitments. PPL created a chief diversity officer position in 2022 to lead the company's DEI efforts. Senior management reviews demographic metrics, DEI objectives and associated programs semi-annually. The Board also receives periodic updates from senior management on PPL's DEI strategy and initiatives.
• Employee engagement - Create a workplace that fosters an engaged, high-quality workforce. PPL's operating companies regularly conduct assessments related to employee engagement, safety and culture. Senior management reviews corporate culture with the Board at least annually.
• Professional development - Invest in the current and future workforce through training and development, succession planning and creation of a pipeline for internal advancement. Senior management reviews succession planning with the Compensation Committee of the Board on an annual basis.
• Comprehensive benefits - In addition to challenging careers and competitive salaries, PPL offers competitive benefits programs to attract and retain talent and support employees' well-being. PPL offers competitive vacation time, expanded leave for new parents, retirement programs, and internal and external development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement offerings for undergraduate and certain graduate degrees. Senior management conducts annual benchmarking of employee compensation and benefits.
• Safety and Compliance - PPL is committed to maintaining an ethical and safe workplace culture. Additional steps to ensure Board oversight in these areas include:
• Safety – PPL implements programs focused on health and safety, including emergency preparedness, vehicle safety and accident prevention. Employees receive safety training and are encouraged to share, implement, and follow best practices. Senior management receives monthly safety data updates to determine whether additional safety measures should be implemented. The Board reviews the company's safety programs and results at least annually. The Board is also immediately engaged in the event of a fatality.
• Compliance – The Corporate Compliance Committee, including senior executives, meets quarterly to discuss metrics and other matters related to the compliance and ethics culture. Among the items discussed are statistics regarding Ethics Helpline reports and employee concerns. This information is also reviewed with the Audit Committee of the Board quarterly.

PPL will continue to engage with employees and to assess these priorities as we work to best position individuals and the company for future success. PPL had a turnover rate of 9.08% for the year ended December 31, 2023. Looking forward, PPL will maintain our strong focus on workforce planning to address future talent needs.

At December 31, 2023, PPL and its subsidiaries had the following full-time employees and employees represented by labor unions:

(PPL and KU)

In August 2023, KU and the IBEW local failed to reach agreement on an annual wage reopener under their existing labor agreement which expires on August 1, 2024. The agreement covers approximately 60 employees. The parties are currently operating under the terms of a general wage increase unilaterally implemented by KU. The IBEW local has filed certain unfair labor practice claims with the U.S. Department of Labor and approved a strike authorization vote. KU expects to begin negotiating their new contract during July 2024, ahead of the August expiration.

(PPL)

Labor agreement negotiations with the Rhode Island UWUA are expected to commence in March 2024. The current contracts cover over 530 employees and are scheduled to expire in May 2024.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION (All Registrants)

PPL's Internet website is www.pplweb.com (http://www.pplweb.com). Under the Investors heading of that website, PPL provides access to SEC filings of the Registrants (including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(d) or 15(d)) free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC. The information contained on, or available through, PPL's Internet website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, incorporated by reference into this report. Additionally, the Registrants' filings are available at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov)).

The Registrants face various risks associated with their businesses. Our businesses, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. In addition, this report also contains forward-looking and other statements about our businesses that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. See "Forward-Looking Information," "Item 1. Business," "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information concerning the risks described below and for other risks, uncertainties and factors that could affect our businesses and financial results.

As used in this Item 1A., the terms "we," "our" and "us" generally refer to PPL and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, or PPL Electric and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole within the Pennsylvania Regulated segment discussion, LG&E, KU and their consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole within the Kentucky Regulated segment discussion, and RIE within the Rhode Island Regulated segment discussion.

Order of Subsection Presentation

A. Risks Related to Registrant Holding Company

B. Risks Related to Regulated Utility Operations

C. Risks Specific to Kentucky Regulated Segment

D. Risks Specific to Pennsylvania Regulated Segment

E. Risks Specific to Rhode Island Regulated Segment

F. Risks Related to All Segments

(PPL)

A. Risk Related to Registrant Holding Company

PPL is a holding company and its cash flows and ability to meet its obligations with respect to indebtedness and under guarantees, and its ability to pay dividends, largely depends on the financial performance of its respective subsidiaries and, as a result, is effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of those subsidiaries.

PPL is a holding company and conducts its operations primarily through subsidiaries. Substantially all of the consolidated assets of PPL are held by its subsidiaries. Accordingly, PPL's cash flows and ability to meet debt and guaranty obligations, as well as PPL's ability to pay dividends, are largely dependent upon the earnings of those subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of such earnings in the form of dividends, distributions, loans, advances or repayment of loans and advances. The subsidiaries are separate legal entities and have no obligation to pay dividends or distributions to their parents or to make funds available for such a payment. The ability of PPL's subsidiaries to pay dividends or distributions in the future will depend on the subsidiaries' future earnings and cash flows and the needs of their businesses, and may be restricted by their obligations to holders of their outstanding debt and other creditors, as well as any contractual or legal restrictions in effect at such time, including the requirements of state corporate law applicable to payment of dividends and distributions, and regulatory requirements, including restrictions on the ability of PPL Electric, LG&E, KU, and RIE to pay dividends under Section 305(a) of the Federal Power Act.

Because PPL is a holding company, its debt and guaranty obligations are effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of its subsidiaries. Although certain agreements to which certain subsidiaries are parties limit their ability to incur additional indebtedness, PPL and its subsidiaries retain the ability to incur substantial additional indebtedness and other liabilities. Therefore, PPL's rights and the rights of its creditors, including rights of debt holders, to participate in the assets of any of its subsidiaries, in the event that such a subsidiary is liquidated or reorganized, will be subject to the prior claims of such subsidiary's creditors.

PPL may not realize the anticipated benefits of the RIE acquisition, which could materially adversely affect PPL's business, financial condition and results of operations.

PPL may not realize the anticipated financial and operational benefits from the RIE acquisition if the business is not integrated in an efficient and effective manner or if integration takes longer than anticipated. These integration risks include potential difficulties in conversion of systems and information, difficulties in harmonizing inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures, practices and policies, disruption from the acquisition making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers, and diversion of management time and attention to integration and other acquisition-related issues. In addition, PPL has incurred, and will continue to incur, significant costs in connection with the integration, and additional unanticipated costs may arise. No assurance can be given that the anticipated benefits from the acquisition will be achieved or, if achieved, the timing of their achievement. These risks and their consequences could result in increased costs or decreases in the amount of expected revenues and could have a material adverse effect on PPL's business, financial condition and results of operations.

(All Registrants)

B. Risks Related to Regulated Utility Operations

Our regulated utility businesses face many of the same risks, in addition to those risks that are unique to each of the Kentucky Regulated, Pennsylvania Regulated and Rhode Island Regulated segments. Set forth below are risk factors common to the regulated segments, followed by sections identifying separately the risks specific to each of these segments.

Our profitability is highly dependent on our ability to recover the costs of providing energy and utility services to our customers and earn an adequate return on our capital investments. Regulators may not approve the rates we request and existing rates may be challenged.

The rates we charge our utility customers must be approved by one or more federal or state regulatory commissions, including the FERC, KPSC, VSCC, PAPUC and RIPUC. Although rate regulation is generally premised on the recovery of prudently incurred costs and a reasonable rate of return on invested capital, there can be no assurance that regulatory authorities will consider all of our costs to have been prudently incurred or that the regulatory process by which rates are determined will always result in rates that achieve full or timely recovery of our costs or an adequate return on our capital investments. Federal or state agencies, intervenors and other permitted parties may challenge our current or future rate requests, structures or mechanisms, and ultimately reduce, alter or limit the rates we receive. Although our rates are generally regulated based on an analysis of our costs incurred in a base year or on future projected costs, the rates we are allowed to charge may or may not match our costs at any given time. Our regulated utility businesses are subject to substantial capital expenditure requirements over the next several years, which may require rate increase requests to the regulators in the future. If our costs are not adequately recovered through rates, it could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Our utility businesses are subject to significant and complex governmental regulation.

In addition to regulating the rates we charge, various federal and state regulatory authorities regulate many aspects of our utility operations, including:

• the terms and conditions of our service and operations;
• financial and capital structure matters, and issuance of securities;
• siting, construction and operation of facilities;
• mandatory reliability and safety standards under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and other standards of conduct;
• accounting, depreciation and cost allocation methodologies;
• tax matters;
• affiliate transactions;
• acquisition, retirement and disposal of utility assets; and
• various other matters, including energy efficiency.

Such regulations or changes thereto may subject us to higher operating costs or increased capital expenditures and failure to comply could result in sanctions or possible penalties which may not be recoverable from customers.

Our regulated businesses undertake significant capital projects and these activities are subject to unforeseen costs, delays or failures, as well as risk of inadequate recovery of resulting costs.

The regulated utility businesses are capital intensive and require significant investments in energy generation (in the case of LG&E and KU) and transmission, distribution and other infrastructure projects, such as projects for environmental compliance and system reliability. The completion of these projects without delays or cost overruns is subject to risks in many areas, including:

• approval, licensing and permitting;
• land acquisition and the availability of suitable land;
• skilled labor or equipment shortages;
• construction problems or delays, including disputes with third-party intervenors;
• increases in commodity prices or labor rates;
• potential supply chain disruptions or delays; and
• contractor performance.

Failure to complete our capital projects on schedule or on budget, or at all, could adversely affect our financial performance, operations and future growth if such expenditures are not granted rate recovery by our regulators.

We are or may be subject to costs of remediation of environmental contamination at facilities owned or operated by our former subsidiaries.

We may be subject to liability for the costs of environmental remediation of property now or formerly owned by us with respect to substances that we may have generated regardless of whether the liabilities arose before, during or after the time we owned or operated the facilities. We also have current or previous ownership interests in sites associated with the production of manufactured gas for which we may be liable for additional costs related to investigation, remediation and monitoring of these sites. Remediation activities associated with our former manufactured gas plant operations are one source of such costs. Citizen groups or others may bring litigation regarding environmental issues including claims of various types, such as property damage, personal injury and citizen challenges to compliance decisions on the enforcement of environmental requirements, which could subject us to penalties, injunctive relief and the cost of litigation. We cannot predict the amount and timing of future expenditures (including the potential or magnitude of fines or penalties) related to such environmental matters, although they could be material.

C. Risks Specific to Kentucky Regulated Segment

(PPL, LG&E and KU)

We are subject to financial, operational, regulatory and other risks related to requirements, developments and uncertainties in environmental regulation, including those affecting coal-fired generation facilities.

Extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations are applicable to LG&E's and KU's generation supply, including its air emissions, water discharges (ELGs) and the management of hazardous and solid wastes (CCRs), among other business-related activities, and the costs of compliance or alleged non-compliance cannot be predicted and could be material. In addition, our costs may increase significantly if the requirements or scope of environmental laws, regulations or similar rules are expanded or changed as the environmental standards governing LG&E’s and KU’s businesses, particularly as applicable to coal-fired generation and related activities, continue to be subject to uncertainties due to rulemaking and other regulatory developments, legislative activities and litigation, administrative and permit challenges. The Biden administration is considering a wide range of potential policies, executive orders, rules, legislation and other initiatives in connection with climate change that may affect these costs. Depending on the extent, frequency and timing of such changes, LG&E and KU may face higher risks of unsuccessful implementation of environmental-related business plans, noncompliance with applicable environmental rules, delayed or incomplete rate recovery or increased costs of implementation. Costs may take the form of increased capital expenditures or operating and maintenance expenses, monetary fines, penalties or forfeitures, operational changes, permit limitations or other restrictions. At some of our older generating facilities it may be uneconomic for us to install necessary pollution control equipment, which could cause us to retire those units. Our ability to retire plants we believe are uneconomic is expected to be subject to receipt of regulatory approvals. Market prices for energy and capacity also affect this cost-effectiveness analysis. Many of these environmental law considerations are also applicable to the operations of our key suppliers or customers, such as coal producers, power producers and industrial power users, and may impact the costs of their products and demand for our services.

(PPL and LG&E)

We are subject to operational, regulatory and other risks regarding natural gas supply infrastructure.

A natural gas pipeline explosion or associated incident could have a significant impact on LG&E’s natural gas operations or result in significant damages and penalties that could have an adverse impact on LG&E’s financial position and results of operations. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration enforces regulations that govern the design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipeline facilities. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in the assessment of fines or penalties against LG&E. These regulations require, among other things, that pipeline operators take certain measures with respect to pipeline integrity. Depending on the results of integrity tests and other integrity program activities, we could incur significant and unexpected costs to perform remedial activities on our natural gas infrastructure to ensure our continued safe and reliable operation. Recent pipeline incidents in the U.S. have also led to the introduction of proposed rules and possible federal legislative actions which could impose restrictions on LG&E’s operations or require more stringent testing to ensure pipeline integrity. Implementation of these regulations could increase our costs to comply with pipeline integrity and safety regulations.

D. Risks Specific to Pennsylvania Regulated Segment

(PPL and PPL Electric)

We face competition for transmission projects, which could adversely affect our rate base growth.

FERC Order 1000, issued in July 2011, establishes certain procedural and substantive requirements relating to participation, cost allocation and non-incumbent developer aspects of regional and inter-regional electricity transmission planning activities. The PPL Electric transmission business, operating under a FERC-approved PJM Open Access Transmission Tariff, is subject to competition pursuant to FERC Order 1000 from entities that are not incumbent PJM transmission owners with respect to the construction and ownership of transmission facilities within PJM. Increased competition can result in lower rate base growth.

We could be subject to higher costs and/or penalties related to Pennsylvania Conservation and Energy Efficiency Programs.

PPL Electric is subject to Act 129, which contains requirements for energy efficiency and conservation programs and for the use of smart metering technology, imposes PLR electricity supply procurement rules, provides remedies for market misconduct, and made changes to the existing Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. The law also requires electric utilities to meet specified goals for reduction in customer electricity usage and peak demand. Utilities not meeting these Act 129 requirements are subject to significant penalties that cannot be recovered in rates. Numerous factors outside of our control could prevent compliance with these requirements and result in penalties to us.

E. Risks Specific to the Rhode Island Regulated Segment

(PPL)

We are subject to operational, regulatory and other risks regarding natural gas supply infrastructure in Rhode Island.

A natural gas pipeline explosion or associated incident could have a significant impact on RIE's natural gas operations or result in significant damages and penalties that could have an adverse impact on RIE’s financial position and results of operations. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration enforces regulations that govern the design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipeline facilities. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in the assessment of fines or penalties against RIE. These regulations require, among other things, that pipeline operators take certain measures with respect to pipeline integrity. Depending on the results of integrity tests and other integrity program activities, we could incur significant and unexpected costs to perform remedial activities on our natural gas infrastructure to ensure our continued safe and reliable operation.

F. Risks Related to All Segments

(All Registrants)

Pandemic health events and their impact on business and economic conditions could negatively affect our business.

A resurgence, or new variant of COVID-19 or other pandemic health event and related remediation efforts could present challenges to businesses, communities, workforces, markets and supply chains. At this time, the Registrants’ cannot predict the ways in which and the extent to which these or other pandemic-related factors may affect their business, earnings or other financial results.

Our business operations are continually subject to cyber-based security and data integrity risks from vulnerabilities related to our IT systems, operational technology infrastructure and supply chain relationships.

Numerous functions affecting the efficient operation of our businesses are dependent on the secure and reliable storage, processing and communication of electronic data and the use of sophisticated computer hardware and software systems and network infrastructure. The operation of our transmission and distribution systems, including gas distribution systems, as well as our generation plants, are all reliant on cyber-based, complex and integrated technologies. Systemic issues could arise as a result of upgrades to particular software or human error. In addition, these complex systems are subject to the risk that they could be the target of disruptive actions by terrorists, nation state actors or criminals or otherwise be compromised. Attacks may come through ransomware, software updates or patches, use of opensource software, firmware that hackers can manipulate to include malicious codes for exploitation at a later date, or the compromising of hardware by bad actors, creating serious risks to our security, the security of our customers' information, and potentially to our ability to provide power. Attacks could also target our personnel or contractors through attempts to gain access or credentials that could be used to breach our systems. As a result, operations could be interrupted, property could be damaged and sensitive customer information lost or stolen, causing us to incur significant losses of revenues, other substantial liabilities and damages, costs to replace or repair damaged equipment and damage to our reputation. Threats to our systems and operations continue to emerge as new ways to compromise components of our systems or networks are developed. Additionally, cybersecurity risks also threaten our supply chains, including aspects that are not under our control, such as the incorporation of opensource software in systems or software that we use, that despite our efforts do not meet our current security standards.

In addition, under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, users, owners and operators of the bulk power transmission system, including PPL Electric, LG&E, KU and RIE, are subject to mandatory reliability standards promulgated by NERC and enforced by the FERC. As an operator of natural gas distribution systems, LG&E is also subject to mandatory reliability standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation and is also subject to certain security directives related to cybersecurity issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2021. The TSA has determined that LG&E is critical, while RIE has not been notified of this distinction and is therefore not currently subject to the security directives. Failure to comply with these standards could result in the imposition of fines or civil penalties, and potential exposure to third party claims for alleged violations of the standards.

We are subject to risks associated with federal and state tax laws and regulations.

Changes in tax law as well as the inherent difficulty in quantifying potential tax effects of business decisions could negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows. We are required to make judgments in order to estimate our obligations to taxing authorities. These tax obligations include income, property, gross receipts, franchise, sales and use, employment-related and other taxes. We also estimate our ability to utilize deferred tax assets and tax credits. Dependent upon the revenue needs of the jurisdictions in which our businesses operate, various tax and fee increases may be proposed or considered. We cannot predict changes in tax law or regulation or the effect of any such changes on our businesses. Any such changes could increase tax expense and could have a significant negative impact on our results of operations and cash flows. We continue to evaluate the application of relevant laws, including the TCJA and the IRA in calculating income tax expense.

Increases in electricity prices and/or a weak economy can lead to changes in legislative and regulatory policy, including the promotion of energy efficiency, conservation and distributed generation or self-generation, which may adversely impact our business.

Energy consumption is significantly impacted by overall levels of economic activity and costs of energy supplies. Economic downturns or periods of high energy supply costs can lead to changes in or the development of legislative and regulatory policy designed to promote reductions in energy consumption and increased energy efficiency, alternative and renewable energy sources, and distributed or self-generation by customers. This focus on conservation, energy efficiency and self-generation may result in a decline in electricity demand, which could adversely affect our business.

We could be negatively affected by rising interest rates, downgrades to our credit ratings, adverse credit market conditions or other negative developments in our ability to access capital markets.

Our businesses are capital-intensive and, in the ordinary course of business, we are reliant upon adequate long-term and short-term financing to fund our significant capital expenditures, debt service and operating needs. As a result, we are sensitive to developments in interest rates, credit rating considerations, insurance, security or collateral requirements, market liquidity and credit availability and refinancing opportunities necessary or advisable to respond to credit market changes. Changes in these conditions could result in increased costs and decreased availability of credit. In addition, certain sources of debt and equity capital have expressed reservations about investing in companies that rely on fossil fuels. If sources of our capital are reduced, capital costs could increase materially.

A downgrade in our credit ratings could negatively affect our ability to access capital and increase the cost of maintaining our credit facilities and any new debt.

Credit ratings assigned by Moody's and S&P to our businesses and their financial obligations have a significant impact on the cost of capital incurred by our businesses. A ratings downgrade could increase our short-term borrowing costs and negatively affect our ability to fund liquidity needs and access new long-term debt at acceptable interest rates. See "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Ratings Triggers" for additional information on the financial impact of a downgrade in our credit ratings.

Our operating revenues could fluctuate on a seasonal basis, especially as a result of extreme weather conditions, including storms, or from changes in average temperatures for extended periods, which may be caused or exacerbated by climate change.

Our businesses are subject to seasonal demand cycles. For example, in some markets demand for, and market prices of, electricity peak during hot summer months, while in other markets such peaks occur in cold winter months. As a result, our overall operating results may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis if weather conditions diverge adversely from seasonal norms. Extreme weather and other significant disruptive events could significantly affect our profitability or operations by causing outages, damaging infrastructure and requiring significant repair costs. Storm outages and damage often directly decrease revenues and increase expenses, due to reduced usage and restoration costs. The effects of climate change may cause, contribute to or magnify fluctuations in our operating results.

Our businesses are subject to physical, market and economic risks relating to potential effects of climate change.

Climate change may produce changes in weather or other environmental conditions, including temperature or precipitation levels, and thus may impact consumer demand for electricity. In addition, the potential physical effects of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods, and other climatic events, could disrupt our operations and cause us to incur significant costs to prepare for or respond to these effects. Climate change may also contribute to heightened risk or severity of wildfires, which could disrupt our operations and cause us to incur significant costs, though the annual FEMA National Risk Index for wildfires in the jurisdictions in which we provide service is very low to relatively moderate. These or other meteorological changes could lead to increased operating costs, capital expenses or power purchase costs. Greenhouse gas regulation could increase the cost of electricity, particularly power generated by fossil fuels, and such increases could have a depressive effect on regional economies. Reduced economic and consumer activity in our service areas -- both generally and specific to certain industries and consumers accustomed to previously lower cost power -- could reduce demand for the power we generate, market and deliver. Also, demand for our energy-related services could be similarly lowered by consumers' preferences or market factors favoring energy efficiency, low-carbon power sources or reduced electricity usage. The Registrants' responses to such climate-related risks include compliance with evolving governmental policy and developing and implementing strategies designed to meet net zero carbon emissions goals, which may affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

We cannot predict the outcome of legal proceedings or investigations related to our businesses in which we are periodically involved. An unfavorable outcome or determination in any of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

We are involved in legal proceedings, claims and litigation and periodically are subject to state and federal investigations arising out of our business operations, the most significant of which are summarized in Item 1. Business and "Regulatory Matters" in Note 7 to the Financial Statements and in "Legal Matters" and "Regulatory Issues" in Note 13 to the Financial Statements. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, nor can we reasonably estimate the costs or liabilities that could potentially result from a negative outcome in each case.

Significant increases in our operation and maintenance expenses, including health care and pension costs, could adversely affect our future earnings and liquidity.

We continually focus on limiting and reducing our operation and maintenance expenses. However, we expect to continue to face increased cost pressures in our operations. Increased costs of materials and labor may result from general inflation, increased regulatory requirements (especially in respect of environmental regulations), the need for higher-cost expertise in the workforce or other factors. In addition, pursuant to collective bargaining agreements, we are contractually committed to provide specified levels of health care and pension benefits to certain current employees and retirees. These benefits give rise to significant expenses. Due to general inflation with respect to such costs, the aging demographics of our workforce and other factors, we have experienced significant health care cost inflation in recent years, and we expect our health care costs, including prescription drug coverage, to continue to increase despite measures that we have taken and expect to take to require employees and retirees to bear a higher portion of the costs of their health care benefits. In addition, we expect to continue to incur significant costs with respect to the defined benefit pension plans for our employees and retirees. The measurement of our expected future health care and pension obligations, costs and liabilities is highly dependent on a variety of assumptions, most of which relate to factors beyond our control. These assumptions include investment returns, interest rates, health care cost trends, inflation rates, benefit improvements, salary increases and the demographics of plan participants. If our assumptions prove to be inaccurate, our future costs and cash contribution requirements to fund these benefits could increase significantly.

We may incur liabilities in connection with divestitures.

In connection with various divestitures, and certain other transactions, we have indemnified or guaranteed parties against certain liabilities. These indemnities and guarantees relate, among other things, to liabilities which may arise with respect to the period during which we or our subsidiaries operated a divested business, and to certain ongoing contractual relationships and entitlements with respect to which we or our subsidiaries made commitments in connection with a divestiture. See "Guarantees and Other Assurances" in Note 13 to the Financial Statements.

We are subject to liability risks relating to our generation, transmission and distribution operations.

The conduct of our physical and commercial operations subjects us to many risks, including risks of potential physical injury, property damage or other financial liability, caused to or by employees, customers, contractors, vendors, contractual or financial counterparties and other third parties.

Our facilities may not operate as planned, which may increase our expenses and decrease our revenues and have an adverse effect on our financial performance.

Operation of power plants, transmission and distribution facilities, information technology systems and other assets and activities subjects us to a variety of risks, including the breakdown or failure of equipment, accidents, security breaches, viruses or outages affecting information technology systems, labor disputes, obsolescence, delivery/transportation problems and disruptions of fuel supply and performance below expected levels. These events may impact our ability to conduct our businesses efficiently and lead to increased costs, expenses or losses. Operation of our delivery systems below our expectations may result in lost revenue and increased expense, including higher maintenance costs, which may not be recoverable from customers. Planned and unplanned outages at our power plants may require us to purchase power at then-current market prices to satisfy our commitments or, in the alternative, pay penalties and damages for failure to satisfy them.

Although we maintain insurance coverage for certain of these risks, we do not carry insurance for all of these risks and no assurance can be given that such insurance coverage will be sufficient to compensate us in the event losses occur.

We are required to obtain, and to comply with, government permits and approvals.

We are required to obtain, and to comply with, numerous permits, approvals, licenses and certificates from governmental agencies. The process of obtaining and renewing necessary permits can be lengthy and complex and sometimes result in the establishment of permit conditions that make the project or activity for which a permit was sought unprofitable or otherwise unattractive. In addition, such permits or approvals may be subject to denial, revocation or modification under certain circumstances. Failure to obtain or comply with the conditions of permits or approvals, or failure to comply with any applicable laws or regulations, may result in delay or temporary suspension of our operations and electricity sales or the curtailment of our power delivery and may subject us to penalties and other sanctions. Although various regulators routinely renew existing licenses, renewal could be denied or jeopardized by various factors, including failure to provide adequate financial assurance for closure; failure to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations or permit conditions; local community, political or other opposition; and executive, legislative or regulatory action.

Our cost or inability to obtain and comply with the permits and approvals required for our operations could have a material adverse effect on our operations and cash flows. In addition, new environmental legislation or regulations, if enacted, or changed interpretations of existing laws may elicit claims that historical routine modification activities at our facilities violated applicable laws and regulations. In addition to the possible imposition of fines in such cases, we may be required to undertake significant capital investments in pollution control technology and obtain additional operating permits or approvals, which could have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

War, other armed conflicts or terrorist attacks could have a material adverse effect on our business.

War, terrorist attacks and unrest have caused and may continue to cause instability in the world's financial and commercial markets. In addition, unrest could lead to acts of terrorism in the United States or elsewhere, and acts of terrorism could be directed against companies such as ours. Armed conflicts and terrorism and their effects on us or our markets may significantly affect our business and results of operations in the future. In addition, we may incur increased costs for security, including additional physical plant security and security personnel or increased capability following a terrorist incident.

We are subject to counterparty performance, credit or other risk in the provision of goods or services to us, which could adversely affect our ability to operate our facilities or conduct business activities.

We purchase from a variety of suppliers energy, capacity, fuel, natural gas, transmission service and certain commodities used in the physical operation of our businesses, as well as goods or services, including information technology rights and services, used in the administration of our businesses. Delivery of these goods and services is dependent on the continuing operational performance and financial viability of our contractual counterparties and also the markets, infrastructure or third parties they use to provide such goods and services to us. As a result, we are subject to risks of disruptions, curtailments or increased costs in the operation of our businesses if such goods or services are unavailable or become subject to price spikes or if a counterparty fails to perform. Such disruptions could adversely affect our ability to operate our facilities or deliver services and collect revenues, which could result in lower sales and/or higher costs and thereby adversely affect our results of operations. The performance of coal markets and producers may be the subject of increased counterparty risk to LG&E and KU currently due to weaknesses in such markets and suppliers. The coal industry is subject to increasing competitive pressures from natural gas markets, political pressures and new or more stringent environmental regulation, including regulation of combustion byproducts and water inputs or discharges.

We are subject to the risk that our workforce and its knowledge base may become depleted in coming years.

Our businesses depend upon our ability to employ and retain key officers and other skilled professional and technical employees. We experience attrition due primarily to retiring employees, with the risk that critical knowledge will be lost and that it may be difficult to replace departed personnel, and to attract and retain new personnel, with appropriate skills and experience.

Processes for Identifying, Assessing and Managing Material Risks from Cybersecurity Threats

PPL’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) is responsible for establishing PPL’s cyber-risk management strategy for PPL and the other Registrants and reports directly to PPL’s Chief Executive Officer. The CSO has over 25 years of experience leading technology and security organizations, has a degree in computer science, and holds professional certifications in information security, IT auditing, and privacy. He is also a member of nationally and internationally recognized industry and security organizations, including the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, International Association of Privacy Professionals, and the Domestic Security Alliance Council. PPL’s VP – Cybersecurity is responsible for implementing and executing the cyber-risk management strategy. The VP – Cybersecurity is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with a wealth of experience safeguarding digital assets across multiple industries. He maintains a globally recognized cyber certification and has held multiple certifications in the areas of cyber risk and information control, and actively contributes to industry advancement as a member of national and international industry groups. The teams managed by the CSO and VP – Cybersecurity are comprised of seasoned experts in cyber and IT security and possess appropriate experience to safeguard the company’s data, networks and systems, mitigate cyber risks and help prevent and combat cyber threats.

The Registrants manage cybersecurity risks through monitoring, defense and response tools, including independent third-party assessments, internal audit assessments of the program’s effectiveness, intelligence reports, cybersecurity threat trends, implementation of governance models, industry collaboration and employee training and awareness. The Registrants are actively engaged in cybersecurity related industry forums, public-private partnerships with law enforcement, cross-industry peer groups, and other efforts to help improve the protection of the U.S. electric grid.

The Registrants utilize monitoring tools, including but not limited to, cybersecurity incident and event management, penetration testing, intrusion detection and prevention, vulnerability assessments and anti-virus systems to detect anomalous or suspicious system or network activity. The Registrants may also become aware of a potential cybersecurity event or incident through employee reports, notification by a third-party service provider or business partner with potential impact to the Registrants or their systems, customers or notification by a government agency. The Registrants’ subject matter specialists from across the enterprise provide input and expertise into risk governance processes, including cybersecurity, information technology, legal, compliance, operations, and enterprise risk management.

In developing their cybersecurity programs, the Registrants are guided by various frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, a voluntary framework that consists of standards, guidelines and best practices for managing cybersecurity risk, that is widely used by critical infrastructure industries to help determine and address the highest priority cybersecurity risks. The Registrants conduct regular internal cybersecurity audits and vulnerability assessments and regularly engage with third-party cybersecurity experts for external assessments of their cybersecurity controls, including technical, physical and social aspects, to better comprehend the scope and magnitude of active threats to the industry and nation and their potential impact on our systems.

PPL and the other Registrants also maintain a process to review the cyber risks that arise from the use of third-party service providers as well as programs and procedures to mitigate such risks internally and to assess the extent to which such providers effectively manage their own cyber risks.

The CSO chairs the Corporate Security Council, which holds regular meetings consisting of senior executive management and reviews and oversees cybersecurity risks. The VP – Cybersecurity chairs the Cybersecurity Governance Council, which governs actions to ensure that the Registrants are effectively managing cybersecurity risks, as well as the Cybersecurity Steering Committee, that drives accountability, establishes work priorities, and directs a portfolio of key cybersecurity projects and initiatives.

PPL has established an Executive Crisis Team comprised of PPL’s executive leadership, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Operating Officer, VP – Public Affairs and Sustainability, VP – Corporate Communications, and additional officers as circumstances may warrant, to allow the company to respond quickly to a crisis, including a cyber event. This team governs and manages corporate crisis preparedness across the business lines, operations, and functions. Material or potentially material risks are escalated to the Executive Crisis Team and other appropriate leadership for review and action.

Also, the Registrants’ workforce undertakes mandatory role-based annual training on identifying, reporting, and escalating cyber and physical security concerns to further assist in the identification of risks as well as the acceptable use of corporate electronic resources. Additionally, all employees and contractors are required to participate in the Registrants’ ethical cyber phishing campaign program.

In addition to these enterprise-wide initiatives, PPL's Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island operations are subject to extensive and rigorous mandatory cybersecurity requirements that are developed and enforced by NERC and approved by the FERC to protect grid security and reliability. LG&E is also subject to certain security directives related to cybersecurity issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration in 2021. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information on these directives.

The Registrants have been subject to attempted cybersecurity threats and will likely continue to be subject to such attempts in the future. While PPL has not determined any cybersecurity incidents have materially affected the Registrants, including their business strategy, results of operations or financial condition, there can be no guarantee that the Registrants will not be the subject of future, successful attacks, threats or incidents, which may be material.

See “Risks Related to All Segments – Our business operations are continually subject to cyber-based security and data integrity risks from vulnerabilities related to our IT systems, operational technology infrastructure and supply chain relationships” in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for a discussion of cybersecurity risks affecting the Registrants.

Oversight of Cybersecurity Risks by the Board of Directors and Management

PPL’s Board of Directors oversees the Registrants’ management of cybersecurity risk through various processes identified below.

The Board has direct oversight of the Registrants’ cybersecurity programs through periodic reports from the CSO, at least twice a year, regarding cybersecurity matters and risks as well as the adequacy and effectiveness of our cybersecurity risk management program. Through these reports, the Board monitors the Registrants’ programs, processes and procedures related to cybersecurity. The Board has directed the CEO and CSO to promptly inform the Board in the event of a material or potentially material cybersecurity event. Each member of the Board has access to management, including the CEO and CSO, to ask questions and engage on the company’s approach to prevent, detect, assess, and mitigate cybersecurity risk. PPL’s Board has several Board members with experience in cybersecurity, including one with a certificate in Cyber-Risk Oversight from the National Association of Corporate Directors.

A primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in the oversight of the identification, assessment and management of risk. Cybersecurity risks are included in PPL’s enterprise risk management process and are reported to the Audit Committee of the Board on a quarterly basis or more frequently, as needed.

Kentucky Regulated Segment (PPL, LG&E and KU)

LG&E's and KU's properties consist primarily of regulated generation facilities, electricity transmission and distribution assets and natural gas transmission and distribution assets in Kentucky. The capacity of generation units is based on a number of factors, including the operating experience and physical condition of the units, and may be revised periodically to reflect changed circumstances. The electricity generating capacity at December 31, 2023 was:

(a) Trimble County Unit 1 and Trimble County Unit 2 are jointly owned with Illinois Municipal Electric Agency and Indiana Municipal Power Agency. Each owner is entitled to its proportionate share of the units' total output and funds its proportionate share of capital, fuel and other operating costs. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information.

(b) There is an inlet air cooling system attributable to these units. This inlet air cooling system is not jointly owned; however, it is used to increase production on the units to which it relates, resulting in an additional 12 MW of capacity for LG&E and an additional 86 MW of capacity for KU.

(c) This unit is a 10 MW facility and achieves such production. The 8 MW solar facility summer capacity rating is reflective of an average expected output across the peak hours during the summer period based on average weather conditions at the solar facility.

For a description of LG&E's and KU's service areas, see "Item 1. Business - General - Segment Information - Kentucky Regulated Segment." At December 31, 2023, LG&E's and KU's electricity transmission and distribution systems and LG&E's natural gas transmission and distribution systems were:

(a) 191 substations (61 at LG&E and 130 at KU) are shared between the distribution and transmission systems.

Substantially all of LG&E's and KU's respective real and tangible personal property located in Kentucky and used or to be used in connection with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and, in the case of LG&E, the storage and distribution of natural gas, is subject to the lien of either the LG&E 2010 Mortgage Indenture or the KU 2010 Mortgage Indenture. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.

LG&E and KU continuously reexamine development projects based on market conditions and other factors to determine whether to proceed with the projects, sell, cancel or expand them or pursue other options. See Item 1. Business for a discussion related to LG&E's and KU's Solar Share program and 2022 CPCN filing.

Pennsylvania Regulated Segment (PPL and PPL Electric)

For a description of PPL Electric's service area, see "Item 1. Business - General - Segment Information - Pennsylvania Regulated Segment." PPL Electric has electric transmission and distribution lines in public streets and highways pursuant to franchises and rights-of-way secured from property owners. At December 31, 2023, PPL Electric's transmission system includes 52 substations with a total capacity of 32 million kVA and 5,295 circuit miles in service. PPL Electric's distribution system includes 353 substations with a total capacity of 15 million kVA, 36,569 circuit miles of overhead lines and 8,891 underground circuit miles. All of PPL Electric's facilities are located in Pennsylvania. Substantially all of PPL Electric's distribution properties and certain transmission properties are subject to the lien of the PPL Electric 2001 Mortgage Indenture. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.

Rhode Island Regulated Segment (PPL)

For a description of RIE's service area, see "Item 1. Business - General - Segment Information - Rhode Island Regulated Segment." At December 31, 2023, RIE's electric transmission system includes 44 substations with capacity of 33 kVA or higher, 342 circuit miles of overhead lines and 45 underground circuit miles. RIE's electric distribution system includes 59 substations, 5,328 circuit miles of overhead lines and 1,234 underground circuit miles. RIE also has distribution mains for its natural gas system with mileage of 3,227 miles. All of RIE's facilities are located in Rhode Island.

See Notes 6, 7, 9 and 13 to the Financial Statements for information regarding legal, tax and regulatory matters and proceedings.

(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 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.

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 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.

PPL: Statement of Income Analysis and Segment Earnings

Statement of Income Analysis

Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:

Operating Revenues

The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:

(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.

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:

(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:

(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.

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:

(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:

(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:

(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:

36

(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:

(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.

PPL's Earnings from Ongoing Operations by reportable segment were as follows:

(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:

(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:

(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.

• 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:

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:

(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.

• 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:

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:

(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.

• 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.
• 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.

(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.

(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:

Operating Revenues

The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:

(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.

(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:

Operating Revenues

The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:

(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.

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:

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:

Operating Revenues

The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:

(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:

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:

(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:

Operating Activities

The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) operating activities were as follows:

47

(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

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:

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:

(All Registrants)

See Note 8 to the Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for information on 2023 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 2023 included:

(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

(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.

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)

(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:

(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.

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.

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(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:

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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 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.

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.

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.

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:

(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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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.

(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 (http://www.pplweb.com) and on www.pplsustainability.com (http://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.

Cybersecurity

See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 1C. Cybersecurity” for a discussion of cybersecurity risks affecting the Registrants and the related strategies for managing these risks.

Competition

See "Competition" under each of PPL's reportable segments in "Item 1. Business - General - Segment Information" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for a discussion of competitive factors affecting the Registrants.

New Accounting Guidance

There has been no new accounting guidance adopted in 2023, please refer to Note 21 for discussion of significant accounting guidance pending adoption as of December 31, 2023.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

Financial condition and results of operations are impacted by the methods, assumptions and estimates used in the application of critical accounting policies. The following accounting policies are particularly important to an understanding of the reported financial condition or results of operations and require management to make estimates or other judgments of matters that are inherently uncertain. Changes in the estimates or other judgments included within these accounting policies could result in a significant change to the information presented in the Financial Statements (these accounting policies are also discussed in Note 1 to the Financial Statements). Senior management has reviewed with PPL's Audit Committee these critical accounting policies, the following disclosures regarding their application, and the estimates and assumptions regarding them.

Defined Benefits (All Registrants)

Certain of the Registrants and/or their subsidiaries sponsor or participate in certain qualified funded and non-qualified unfunded defined benefit pension plans and both funded and unfunded other postretirement benefit plans. See Notes 1, 7 and 11 to the Financial Statements for additional information about the plans and the accounting for defined benefits.

A summary of plan sponsors by Registrant and whether a Registrant or its subsidiaries sponsor (S) or participate in and receives allocations (P) from those plans is shown in the table below.

Management makes certain assumptions regarding the valuation of benefit obligations and the performance of plan assets. As such, annual net periodic defined benefit costs are recorded in current earnings or regulatory assets and liabilities based on estimated results. Any differences between actual and estimated results are recorded in AOCI or, in the case of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU, regulatory assets and liabilities for amounts that are expected to be recovered through regulated customer rates. These amounts in AOCI or regulatory assets and liabilities are amortized to income over future periods. The significant assumptions are:

• Discount Rate - In selecting the discount rates for defined benefit plans, the plan sponsors start with a cash flow analysis of the expected benefit payment stream for their plans. The plan-specific cash flows are matched against the coupons and expected maturity values of Aa-rated non-callable (or callable with make-whole provisions) bonds that could be purchased

for a hypothetical settlement portfolio. The plan sponsors then use the single discount rate derived from matching the discounted benefit payment stream to the market value of the selected bond portfolio.

• Expected Return on Plan Assets - The expected long-term rates of return for pension and other postretirement benefits are based on management's projections using a best-estimate of expected returns, volatilities and correlations for each asset class. Each plan's specific current and expected asset allocations are also considered in developing a reasonable return assumption.
• Rate of Compensation Increase - Management projects employees' annual pay increases, which are used to project employees' pension benefits at retirement. In selecting a rate of compensation increase, plan sponsors consider past experience, the potential impact of movements in inflation rates and expectations of ongoing compensation practices.

See Note 11 to the Financial Statements for details of the assumptions selected for pension and other postretirement benefits. A variance in the assumptions could significantly impact accrued defined benefit liabilities or assets, reported annual net periodic defined benefit costs and AOCI or regulatory assets and liabilities.

The following tables reflect changes in certain assumptions based on the Registrants' primary defined benefit plans. The inverse of this change would have the opposite impact on accrued defined benefit liabilities or assets, reported annual net periodic defined benefit costs and AOCI or regulatory assets and liabilities. The sensitivities below reflect an evaluation of the change based solely on a change in that assumption.

Income Taxes (All Registrants)

Significant management judgment is required in developing the Registrants' provision for income taxes, primarily due to the uncertainty related to tax positions taken or expected to be taken on tax returns and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets.

Additionally, significant management judgment is required to determine the amount of benefit recognized related to an uncertain tax position. On a quarterly basis, uncertain tax positions are reassessed by considering information known as of the reporting date. Based on management's assessment of new information, a tax benefit may subsequently be recognized for a previously unrecognized tax position, a previously recognized tax position may be derecognized, or the benefit of a previously recognized tax position may be remeasured. The amounts ultimately paid upon resolution of issues raised by taxing authorities may differ materially from the amounts accrued and may materially impact the financial statements in the future.

The need for valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets also requires significant management judgment. Valuation allowances are initially recorded and reevaluated each reporting period by assessing the likelihood of the ultimate realization of a deferred tax asset. Management considers several factors in assessing the expected realization of a deferred tax asset, including the reversal of temporary differences, future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Any tax planning strategy utilized in this assessment must meet the recognition and measurement criteria utilized to account for an uncertain tax position. When evaluating the need for valuation allowances, the uncertainty posed by political risk on such factors is also considered by management. The amount of deferred tax assets ultimately realized may differ materially from the estimates utilized in the computation of valuation allowances and may materially impact the financial statements in the future.

See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for income tax disclosures.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (All Registrants)

PPL Electric, LG&E, KU and RIE are subject to cost-based rate regulation. As a result, the effects of regulatory actions are required to be reflected in the financial statements. Assets and liabilities are recorded that result from the regulated ratemaking process that may not be recorded under GAAP for non-regulated entities. Regulatory assets generally represent incurred costs that have been deferred because such costs are probable of future recovery in regulated customer rates. Regulatory liabilities are recognized for amounts expected to be returned through future regulated customer rates. In certain cases, regulatory liabilities are recorded based on an understanding or agreement with the regulator that rates have been set to recover costs that are expected to be incurred in the future, and the regulated entity is accountable for any amounts charged pursuant to such rates and not yet expended for the intended purpose.

Management continually assesses whether the regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as changes in the applicable regulatory and political environments, the ability to recover costs through regulated rates, recent rate orders to the Registrants and other regulated entities, and the status of any pending or potential deregulation legislation. Based on this continual assessment, management believes the existing regulatory assets are probable of recovery. This assessment reflects the current political and regulatory climate at the state and federal levels and is subject to change in the future. If future recovery of costs ceases to be probable, the regulatory asset would be written-off. Additionally, the regulatory agencies can provide flexibility in the manner and timing of recovery of regulatory assets.

See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities recorded at December 31, 2023 and 2022, as well as additional information on those regulatory assets and liabilities. All regulatory assets are either currently being recovered under specific rate orders, represent amounts that are expected to be recovered in future rates or benefit future periods based upon established regulatory practices.

Price Risk Management (PPL)

See "Financial Condition - Risk Management" above.

Goodwill Impairment (PPL, LG&E and KU)

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. The reporting units of PPL include the Kentucky Regulated reporting unit, the Pennsylvania Regulated reporting unit, and the Rhode Island Regulated reporting unit. LG&E and KU are each single reporting units. A goodwill impairment test is performed annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the reporting unit may be greater than the reporting unit's fair value.

The fair value of a reporting unit is compared with the carrying value and an impairment charge is recognized if the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit.

PPL, for its reporting units, and individually, LG&E and KU, may elect either to initially make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of an impairment of goodwill or to bypass the qualitative evaluation and test goodwill for impairment using a quantitative test. See "Long-Lived and Intangible Assets - Asset Impairment (Excluding Investments)" in Note 1 to the

Financial Statements for further discussion of goodwill impairment tests. See Note 18 to the Financial Statements for information on goodwill balances by reportable segment at December 31, 2023.

As of October 1, 2023, PPL, for its reporting units, and individually, LG&E and KU, elected to perform the qualitative step zero evaluation of goodwill. These evaluations considered the excess of fair value over the carrying value of each reporting unit that was calculated during step one of the quantitative impairment tests performed in the fourth quarter of 2022, and the relevant events and circumstances that occurred since those tests were performed including:

• current year financial performance versus the prior year,
• changes in planned capital expenditures,
• the consistency of forecasted free cash flows,
• earnings quality and sustainability,
• changes in market participant discount rates,
• changes in long-term growth rates,
• changes in PPL's market capitalization, and
• the overall economic and regulatory environments in which these regulated entities operate.

Based on these evaluations, management concluded it was not more likely than not that the fair value of these reporting units was less than their carrying value. As such, the step one quantitative impairment test was not performed and no impairment was recognized.

Asset Retirement Obligations (LG&E and KU)

ARO liabilities are required to be recognized for legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets. Initial obligations are measured at estimated fair value. An ARO must be recognized when incurred if the fair value of the ARO can be reasonably estimated. An equivalent amount is recorded as an increase in the value of the capitalized asset and amortized to expense, regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities over the asset's useful life.

In determining AROs, management must make significant judgments and estimates to calculate fair value. Fair value is developed using an expected present value technique based on assumptions of market participants that consider estimated retirement costs in current period dollars, inflated to the anticipated retirement date and discounted back to the date the ARO was incurred. Changes in assumptions and estimates included within the calculations of the fair value of AROs could result in significantly different results than those identified and recorded in the financial statements. Estimated ARO costs and settlement dates, which affect the carrying value of the ARO and the related capitalized asset, are reviewed periodically to ensure that any material changes are incorporated into the ARO estimate. Any change to the capitalized asset is generally amortized over the remaining life of the associated long-lived asset.

See "Long-Lived and Intangible Assets - Asset Retirement Obligations" in Note 1, Note 7 and Note 19 to the Financial Statements for additional information on AROs.

At December 31, 2023, the total recorded balances and information on the most significant recorded AROs were as follows.

The most significant assumptions surrounding AROs are the forecasted retirement costs (including settlement dates and the timing of cash flows), discount and inflation rates. At December 31, 2023, a 10% increase to retirement cost would increase these ARO liabilities by $7 million at LG&E and $11 million at KU. A 0.25% decrease in the discount rate would increase these ARO liabilities by $5 million at LG&E and $1 million at KU and a 0.25% increase in the inflation rate would increase these ARO liabilities by $4 million at LG&E. There would be no significant change to the annual depreciation expense of the ARO asset or the annual accretion expense of the ARO liability as a result of these changes in assumptions.

Revenue Recognition - Unbilled Revenues (PPL, LG&E and KU)

For RIE, LG&E and KU, revenues related to the sale of energy are recorded when service is rendered or when energy is delivered to customers. Because customers are billed on cycles which vary based on the timing of actual meter reads taken throughout the month, estimates are recorded for unbilled revenues at the end of each reporting period. Such unbilled revenue amounts reflect estimates of deliveries to customers since the date of the last reading of their meters. The unbilled revenue estimates reflect consideration of factors including daily load models, estimated usage for each customer class, the effect of current and different rate schedules, the meter read schedule, the billing schedule, actual weather data, and, where applicable, the impact of weather normalization or other regulatory provisions of rate structures.

Other Information (All Registrants)

PPL's Audit Committee has approved the independent auditor to provide audit and audit-related services, tax services and other services permitted by Sarbanes-Oxley and SEC rules. The audit and audit-related services include services in connection with statutory and regulatory filings, reviews of offering documents and registration statements, and internal control reviews.

PPL Corporation, PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company

Reference is made to "Risk Management" for the Registrants in "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

To the Shareowners and the Board of Directors of PPL Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of PPL Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 16, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities– Impact of Rate-Regulation on Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Related Disclosures – Refer to Notes 1 and 7 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company owns and operates four cost-based rate-regulated utilities for which rates are set by regulatory commissions to enable the regulated utility to recover the costs of providing electric or gas service, as applicable, and to provide a reasonable return to shareholders. As a result, the financial statements are subject to the accounting for certain types of regulation as prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles and reflect the effects of regulatory actions.

Regulatory assets are recognized for the effect of transactions or events where future recovery of underlying costs is probable in regulated customer rates. The effect of such accounting is to defer certain or qualifying costs that would otherwise currently be charged to expense. Regulatory liabilities are recognized for amounts expected to be returned through future regulated customer rates. The accounting for regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities is based on specific rate orders or, in certain cases, regulatory commission precedent for transactions or events. While the Company has indicated that it expects to recover costs from customers through regulated rates, there is a risk that the regulatory commissions will not approve full recovery of and return on such costs or approve recovery on a timely basis in future regulatory decisions.

We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management in continually assessing whether the regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as changes in the applicable regulatory environments, the ability to recover costs through regulated rates, and recent rate orders. Auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation due to its inherent complexities.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the uncertainty of future decisions by regulatory commissions included the following, among others:

• We tested the effectiveness of management’s internal controls over evaluating the likelihood of recovery or refund in future rates of costs deferred as regulatory assets and liabilities. We tested the effectiveness of management’s internal controls over the recognition of amounts as regulatory assets or liabilities and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates.
• We obtained and read relevant regulatory orders issued by the regulatory commissions for the Company and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future rates or of a future reduction in rates based on precedents of the treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances.
• We evaluated the Company’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate-regulation, including the balances recorded and regulatory developments.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Morristown, New Jersey

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2015.

To the Shareowner and the Board of Directors of PPL Electric Utilities Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of PPL Electric Utilities Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities– Impact of Rate-Regulation on Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Related Disclosures – Refer to Notes 1 and 7 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, PPL Electric Utilities Company (PPL Electric) is a cost-based rate-regulated utility for which rates are set by regulatory commissions to enable the regulated utility to recover the costs of providing electric service and to provide a reasonable return to shareholders. As a result, the financial statements are subject to the accounting for certain types of regulation as prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles and reflect the effects of regulatory actions.

Regulatory assets are recognized for the effect of transactions or events where future recovery of underlying costs is probable in regulated customer rates. The effect of such accounting is to defer certain or qualifying costs that would otherwise currently be charged to expense. Regulatory liabilities are recognized for amounts expected to be returned through future regulated customer rates. The accounting for regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities is based on specific rate orders or, in certain cases, regulatory commission precedent for transactions or events. While PPL Electric has indicated that it expects to recover costs from customers through regulated rates, there is a risk that the regulatory commissions will not approve full recovery of and return on such costs or approve recovery on a timely basis in future regulatory decisions.

We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management in continually assessing whether the regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as changes in the applicable regulatory environments, the ability to recover costs through regulated rates, and recent rate orders. Auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation due to its inherent complexities.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the uncertainty of future decisions by regulatory commissions included the following, among others:

• We tested the effectiveness of management’s internal controls over evaluating the likelihood of recovery or refund in future rates of costs deferred as regulatory assets and liabilities. We tested the effectiveness of management’s internal controls over the recognition of amounts as regulatory assets or liabilities and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates.
• We obtained and read relevant regulatory orders issued by the regulatory commissions for PPL Electric and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future rates or of a future reduction in rates based on precedents of the treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances.
• We evaluated PPL Electric’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate-regulation, including the balances recorded and regulatory developments.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Morristown, New Jersey

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2015.

To the Stockholder and the Board of Directors of Louisville Gas and Electric Company

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Louisville Gas and Electric Company (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related statements of income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities– Impact of Rate-Regulation on Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Related Disclosures – Refer to Notes 1 and 7 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, Louisville Gas & Electric Company (LG&E) is a cost-based rate-regulated utility for which rates are set by regulatory commissions to enable the regulated utility to recover the costs of providing electric or gas services, as applicable, and to provide a reasonable return to shareholders. As a result, the financial statements are subject to the accounting for certain types of regulation as prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles and reflect the effects of regulatory actions.

Regulatory assets are recognized for the effect of transactions or events where future recovery of underlying costs is probable in regulated customer rates. The effect of such accounting is to defer certain or qualifying costs that would otherwise currently be charged to expense. Regulatory liabilities are recognized for amounts expected to be returned through future regulated customer rates. The accounting for regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities is based on specific rate orders or, in certain cases, regulatory commission precedent for transactions or events. While LG&E has indicated that it expects to recover costs from customers through regulated rates, there is a risk that the regulatory commissions will not approve full recovery of and return on such costs or approve recovery on a timely basis in future regulatory decisions.

We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management in continually assessing whether the regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as changes in the applicable regulatory environments, the ability to recover costs through regulated rates, and recent rate orders. Auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation due to its inherent complexities.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the uncertainty of future decisions by regulatory commissions included the following, among others:

• We tested the effectiveness of management’s internal controls over evaluating the likelihood of recovery or refund in future rates of costs deferred as regulatory assets and liabilities. We tested the effectiveness of management’s internal controls over the recognition of amounts as regulatory assets or liabilities and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates.
• We obtained and read relevant regulatory orders issued by the regulatory commissions for LG&E and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future rates or of a future reduction in rates based on precedents of the treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances.
• We evaluated LG&E’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate-regulation, including the balances recorded and regulatory developments.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Louisville, Kentucky

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.

To the Stockholder and the Board of Directors of Kentucky Utilities Company

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Kentucky Utilities Company (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related statements of income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities– Impact of Rate-Regulation on Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Related Disclosures – Refer to Notes 1 and 7 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, Kentucky Utilities Company (KU) is a cost-based rate-regulated utility for which rates are set by regulatory commissions to enable the regulated utility to recover the costs of providing electric service and to provide a reasonable return to shareholders. As a result, the financial statements are subject to the accounting for certain types of regulation as prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles and reflect the effects of regulatory actions.

Regulatory assets are recognized for the effect of transactions or events where future recovery of underlying costs is probable in regulated customer rates. The effect of such accounting is to defer certain or qualifying costs that would otherwise currently be charged to expense. Regulatory liabilities are recognized for amounts expected to be returned through future regulated customer rates. The accounting for regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities is based on specific rate orders or, in certain cases, regulatory commission precedent for transactions or events. While KU has indicated that it expects to recover costs from customers through regulated rates, there is a risk that the regulatory commissions will not approve full recovery of and return on such costs or approve recovery on a timely basis in future regulatory decisions.

We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management in continually assessing whether the regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as changes in the applicable regulatory environments, the ability to recover costs through regulated rates, and recent rate orders. Auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation due to its inherent complexities.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the uncertainty of future decisions by regulatory commissions included the following, among others:

• We tested the effectiveness of management’s internal controls over evaluating the likelihood of recovery or refund in future rates of costs deferred as regulatory assets and liabilities. We tested the effectiveness of management’s internal controls over the recognition of amounts as regulatory assets or liabilities and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates.
• We obtained and read relevant regulatory orders issued by the regulatory commissions for KU and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future rates or of a future reduction in rates based on precedents of the treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances.
• We evaluated KU’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate-regulation, including the balances recorded and regulatory developments.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Louisville, Kentucky

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

PPL Corporation, PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company

The Registrants' principal executive officers and principal financial officers, based on their evaluation of the Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) have concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, the Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information relating to the Registrants and their consolidated subsidiaries is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC's rules and forms, particularly during the period for which this annual report has been prepared. The aforementioned principal officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are also effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officers and principal financial officers, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting.

PPL Corporation, PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, Louisville Gas and Electric Company, and Kentucky Utilities Company

The Registrants' principal executive officers and principal financial officers have concluded that there were no changes in the Registrants' internal control over financial reporting during the Registrants' fourth fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrants' internal control over financial reporting.

Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

PPL Corporation

PPL's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f). PPL's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to PPL's management and Board of Directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in "Internal Control - Integrated Framework" (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in "Internal Control - Integrated Framework" (2013), our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.

PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company

Management of PPL's non-accelerated filer companies, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU, are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f). Each of the aforementioned companies' internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to management and Board of Directors of these companies regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the principal executive officers and principal financial officers of the companies listed above, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in "Internal Control - Integrated Framework" (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in "Internal Control - Integrated Framework" (2013), management of these companies concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023. This annual report does not include an attestation report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the companies' independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting for these non-accelerated filer companies. The effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for the aforementioned companies was not subject to attestation by the companies' registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit these companies to provide only management's report in this annual report.

To the Shareowners and the Board of Directors of PPL Corporation

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of PPL Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, of the Company and our report dated February 16, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Morristown, New Jersey