Duke Energy Reports on Sustainability Progress and Plans for the Future

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Apr 21, 2011, 10:49 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) has released its 2010|2011 Sustainability Report.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )

"Delivering Today. Investing for Our Future." describes what the company is doing to meet the current and coming needs of its customers and other stakeholders.

"I used to think that there were two kinds of companies – those that committed to sustainability and those that didn't," said Roberta Bowman, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer. "Today, I don't believe companies have a real choice. We are seeing more and more interest in measures of sustainability performance by the financial community and other key stakeholders."

The report provides an update on Duke Energy's progress in achieving its sustainability goals. Highlights include:

Steady growth in wind and solar energy
Significant reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions
Record results for employee safety
Economic development, philanthropic and volunteer support for local communities
Total shareholder return that surpasses peer utilities.

A letter from Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Rogers speaks to what lies ahead for Duke Energy. He discusses how the company is modernizing its power plants, building a "smart," more reliable power grid, working to develop clean energy technologies, promoting adoption of electric vehicles, and positioning its workforce for business success. These and other topics are addressed in more detail throughout the report.

In addition, the report includes customers' and thought leaders' viewpoints on energy issues, and employees' personal perspectives on their own accountability for sustainable outcomes.

The online version of the report (http://sustainabilityreport.duke-energy.com) provides additional and expanded articles, videos and mouse-over definitions of terms.

Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 12 million people. 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 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.