Rate Hikes, New Educational Programs, Fresh Contracts and Acquisition of Water Utility Systems - Research Report on Duke Energy, AEP, American Water Works Company, Aqua America, and Vectren

NEW YORK, July 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Wall Street Reports announced new research reports highlighting Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK), American Electric Power Co., Inc. (NYSE: AEP), American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK), Aqua America Inc. (NYSE: WTR), and Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC). Today's readers may access these reports free of charge - including full price targets, industry analysis and analyst ratings - via the links below.

Duke Energy Corporation Research Report

On July 1, 2013, Duke Energy Corporation's (Duke Energy) subsidiary Duke Energy Progress, announced that it will increase two components of customer rates in South Carolina. According to the Company, the action of increasing rates was prompted by an increase in market price for coal and nuclear fuel used in electricity generation, along with higher energy usage and increased customer participation in energy-saving programs. Approved by the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, residential customers using 1000 kilowatt-hour of electricity per month would see their bills increase by approximately 4.1%, while commercial customers would see an increase of approximately 3.7%, and industrial customers will see an increase of 4.9%. The Full Research Report on Duke Energy Corporation - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.wsreports.com/r/full_research_report/dfb8_DUK]

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American Electric Power Co., Inc. Research Report

On June 28, 2013, American Electric Power Co., Inc. (AEP) announced that it has received designations for nine data center sites after a comprehensive review of locations across its 11-state territory. Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co. (BLS) was the site selection firm that AEP commissioned for the study. BLS determined that AEP's nine sites offer a reliable and redundant power supply, strong fiber networks, low disaster risks and a business-friendly climate. According to AEP, the data center qualified sites were, Bradley Square, Cherokee Expressway Industrial Park, Findlay Commerce Park, Victoria Site, Industria Center, National Cyber Research Park, Progress Park, Roanoke County Center for Research and Technology and Wolpert Greenfield Site. As stated by Mark James, Vice President of Economic and Business Development for the Company, "The data center pre-qualification process allowed us to clearly understand the needs of the data center users and distinguish AEP as an electric utility able to support those needs." The Full Research Report on American Electric Power Co., Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.wsreports.com/r/full_research_report/e951_AEP]

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American Water Works Company, Inc. Research Report

On July 1, 2013, American Water Works Company, Inc. (American Water Works) announced that its subsidiary American Water Resources of Texas is now registered with the City of Houston as a Private Utility Repair Service Company. The American Water Resources of Texas offers more than 500,000 homeowners with Water Line and Sewer Line Protection Programs through an educational program sponsored by the city. Homeowners are offered three programs that have different enrollment fees as well as repair coverage. According to Barbara Boyarsky, Vice President and General Manager, American Water Resources of Texas, "Many homeowners are unaware that they may be responsible for repairs to the water and sewer pipes on their property. We are pleased to be working with the City of Houston to educate homeowners about this issue and to offer programs that help protect them from the potentially high cost of these repairs." The Full Research American Water Works Company, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.wsreports.com/r/full_research_report/a8b0_AWK]

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Aqua America Inc. Research Report

On July 1, 2013, Aqua America Inc. (Aqua America) announced that it has completed purchasing seven water and wastewater utility systems, three in Pennsylvania, three in North Carolina and one in Virginia, in H1 2013. The Company informed that Aqua Pennsylvania acquired both the water and wastewater system assets of Total Environmental Solutions, Inc. (TESI), for $11.8 million. The Company's North Carolina Subsidiary acquired water system assets of Shaw Hills Subdivision in Wake County. It also purchased wastewater assets of North State Utilities, and water system assets of Knob Creek. In addition, the Company's Virginia Subsidiary purchased the British Woods Water Company in Botetcourt County, Virginia. As stated by the Company's Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis, "The acquisitions we've completed in the first half of the year indicate that our growth-through-acquisition strategy is continuing to fill in our footprint in key growth areas." The Full Research Report on Aqua America Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.wsreports.com/r/full_research_report/3363_WTR]

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Vectren Corporation Research Report

On June 24, 2013, Vectren Corporation (Vectren) announced that it has signed a contract with a national supplier to lock in a portion of its natural gas supply through March 2018 to take advantage of the low, stable natural gas pricing market conditions. Vectren stated that it received Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approval in early 2013, to modify its natural gas purchasing strategy, allowing the utility to enter into long-term purchases of more than 24 months. According to Scott Albertson, the Company's Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, "The abundant supply has driven prices much lower, allowing natural gas bills for our customers to decrease by 40 percent since the winter of 2008-2009. In order to take advantage of these favorable market conditions, we elected to purchase a portion of our gas supply at a fixed rate over the next five years." The Full Research Report on Vectren Corporation - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.wsreports.com/r/full_research_report/6825_VVC]

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SOURCE Wall Street Reports