CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- After closing a major merger and selling non-core businesses in 2006, and spinning off its natural gas businesses in January, Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today focused on its plans for the future during its annual meeting of shareholders.

"We have come together as one company with one purpose - to create value for our customers and shareholders," Chairman, President and CEO Jim Rogers told the approximately 200 shareholders who gathered at the company's Charlotte headquarters.

Rogers presented a four-point agenda for the next three years:

• Investing to meet growing demand: The company could spend from $10 to $15 billion over the next nine years on the development of new generation capacity, including advanced cleaner coal, natural gas, nuclear, renewable energy and energy efficiency assets. He noted that the company filed its innovative save-a-watt energy efficiency plan with North Carolina regulators earlier in the week.
• Modernizing our grid: Rogers said the company would build the "utility of the future" by converting its analog distribution grid into a digital "smart grid" to serve as an information-rich backbone for more efficient energy use. "We are involved in two pilot programs, one in Charlotte and one in the Midwest, to test two different technologies (for Broadband over Power Lines)," he said. "Our goal is to make our grid more efficient and help our customers better manage their energy use."
• Reducing our environmental footprint: Rogers said that with the company's new generation assets and energy efficiency programs, the company will work to effectively "decarbonize" itself over the next 30 years by shutting down older coal plants and making environmental retrofits on existing plants. "We will have one of the cleanest coal fleets in the country," he said. "We have a special responsibility to get it right with the environment."
• Creating a regulatory framework for the future: Rogers said the company is making good progress on its regulatory efforts to recover its investments. He noted that last week, South Carolina lawmakers passed legislation allowing the recovery of financing costs as new base-load generation is built. The company has similar cost recovery initiatives under way in its other states.

"We will continue to talk with customers and regulators so they are supportive of our initiatives," Rogers said. Proper regulatory support is necessary to execute a stakeholder-focused strategy that will ensure rates remain competitive, service stays reliable, customers are satisfied and the company's environmental impact continues to lessen.

"We're paying attention and we will be good environmental stewards," he added.

On the financial side, Rogers said the company expects ongoing diluted earnings per share growth of 4 to 6 percent through 2009, and dividend growth is expected to be in line with earnings growth, with a 70 to 75 percent payout ratio. "Most importantly, we expect to meet our 2007 employee incentive target of $1.15 per share, on an ongoing diluted basis," he said.

During the meeting, shareholders re-elected all 10 members of the board of directors to one-year terms. The company has a declassified board of directors, which means all of the directors are voted on every year at the annual meeting.

Shareholders also ratified the selection of Deloitte & Touche as the company's independent public accountant for 2007.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This document includes a reference to the company's 2007 employee earnings per share ("EPS") incentive target of $1.15. The EPS measure used for employee incentive bonuses is based on ongoing diluted EPS. Ongoing diluted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure as it represents diluted EPS from continuing operations, adjusted for the per-share impact of special items. Special items represent certain charges and credits which management believes will not be recurring on a regular basis. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for ongoing diluted EPS is reported diluted EPS from continuing operations, which includes the impact of special items. Due to the forward-looking nature of this non-GAAP financial measure, information to reconcile it to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is not available at this time, as management is unable to forecast special items for future periods.

This document also includes a reference to the company's expected range of growth in ongoing diluted EPS through 2009. These percentages are based on anticipated ongoing diluted EPS amounts for future periods. This ongoing diluted EPS measure is a non-GAAP financial measure as it represents diluted EPS from continuing operations, adjusted for the impact of special items. Due to the forward-looking nature of ongoing diluted EPS, and related growth rates, for future periods, information to reconcile such non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is not available at this time, as management is unable to forecast any special items for future periods.

Duke Energy Corp., one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, supplies and delivers energy to approximately 3.9 million U.S. customers. The company has nearly 37,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, Duke Energy has more than 4,000 megawatts of electric generation in Latin America, and is a joint-venture partner in a U.S. real estate company.

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: http://www.duke-energy.com.

Forward-looking statement

This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "continue," "should," "could," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "will," "potential," "forecast," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from the results predicted. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward- looking statement include, but are not limited to: State, federal and foreign legislative and regulatory initiatives, including costs of compliance with existing and future environmental requirements; costs and effects of legal and administrative proceedings, settlements, investigations and claims; industrial, commercial and residential growth in Duke Energy Corporation's (Duke Energy) service territories; additional competition in electric markets and continued industry consolidation; political and regulatory uncertainty in other countries in which Duke Energy conducts business; the influence of weather and other natural phenomena on Duke Energy operations, including the economic, operational and other effects of hurricanes and ice storms; the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; unscheduled generation outages, unusual maintenance or repairs and electric transmission system constraints; the results of financing efforts, including Duke Energy's ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by various factors, including Duke Energy's credit ratings and general economic conditions; declines in the market prices of equity securities and resultant cash funding requirements for Duke Energy's defined benefit pension plans; the level of credit worthiness of counterparties to Duke Energy's transactions; employee workforce factors, including the potential inability to attract and retain key personnel; growth in opportunities for Duke Energy's business units, including the timing and success of efforts to develop domestic and international power and other projects; the performance of electric generation and of projects undertaken by Duke Energy's non-regulated businesses; the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies; the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition or divestiture plans, including the prices at which Duke Energy is able to sell assets; and regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of a merger. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than Duke Energy has described. Duke Energy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Duke Energy Corporation

CONTACT:
MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Craft
+1-704-382-7364 or +1-513-419-5943
24-Hour: +1-704-382-8333
ANALYST CONTACT: Sean Trauschke
+1-980-373-7905
both of Duke Energy Corporation