Duke Energy named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the eighth consecutive year

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for North America for the eighth consecutive year.

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In the electric utilities industry, 17 utilities from North America were evaluated for consideration. Four were selected.

"Sustainability continues to be a priority for Duke Energy. It helps us create value throughout the company, and do business in ways that balance the interests of customers, shareholders and the environment," said Lee Mazzocchi, senior vice president and chief integration and innovation officer. "The plans, decisions and actions of our 28,000 employees demonstrate our commitment and lead to our sustainability achievements."

"Recognition by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index demonstrates our dedication to conducting business in a sustainable way," said Shawn Heath, Duke Energy's chief sustainability officer. "Each year, we seek to continuously improve our focus on using sustainability to improve our overall business practices."

Since 1999, the DJSI has evaluated the sustainability of leading companies worldwide.

In selecting the top performers in each business sector, DJSI reviews companies on several general and industry-specific topics related to economic, environmental and social dimensions.

Among them: Corporate governance, environmental policy, climate strategy, human capital development and labor practices.

The index is compiled annually by S&P Dow Jones and Zurich-based RobecoSAM (Sustainable Asset Management). More information is available at http://www.sustainability-index.com/.

Duke Energy publishes an annual Sustainability Report that summarizes its efforts to advance energy efficiency programs, develop renewable energy, reduce emissions and landfill waste, and more.

The 2012 report is available online at: http://sustainabilityreport.duke-energy.com.

Some of the highlights covered in the report include:

• As part of Duke Energy's $9 billion generation fleet modernization program, the company will retire approximately 3,400 megawatts of older coal-fired units by the end of 2013. That number will grow to nearly 6,300 megawatts of coal capacity retired over the next few years.
• Investments in new power plants and upgrades at other units have helped reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 83 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 64 percent since 2005.
• The company has set a goal of owning or purchasing 6,000 megawatts of wind, solar and biomass energy by 2020.
• Since 2010, Duke Energy companies have distributed nearly 37 million compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL) to customers.

About Duke Energy
Duke Energy is the largest electric power holding company in the United States with more than $110 billion in total assets. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.2 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. Its commercial power and international business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.

Contact: Randy Wheeless
Office: 704.382.8379 | 24-Hour: 800-559-3853

SOURCE Duke Energy