CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) has issued its 2008-2009 Sustainability Report, outlining the progress the company made in the second year of its five-year plan for improving the "triple bottom line" of environmental, social and economic performance.

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"Our commitment to sustainability "“ operating our business in a way that’s good for people, the planet and profits "“ doesn’t waver because of the economy," said Jim Rogers, Duke Energy chairman, president and chief executive officer. "If the economic downturn teaches us anything, it's that we must work to solve our nation's energy, economic and environmental challenges simultaneously."

"Our Sustainability Report focuses on the issues that are most material to our company and our stakeholders, including climate change, renewable energy and economic development in tough times," said Roberta Bowman, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer. "Developing and publishing this report is part of our efforts to be as transparent as possible about our business and the challenges we face."

The 48-page report shares a common theme with Duke Energy's 2008 Summary Annual Report: "Redefining our Boundaries."

Specifically, the Sustainability Report highlights:

• Progress on Duke Energy's sustainability plan and environmental goals
  
• Updates on plans and activities to reduce the company's carbon footprint
  
• Duke Energy's perspective on the increasingly important connection between energy and water
  
• Prospects for smart grid technologies and making energy efficiency the "fifth fuel"

The 2008-2009 Duke Energy Sustainability Report can be accessed on the company's Web site at: http://www.duke-energy.com/sr.

Duke Energy is the third largest electric power holding company in the United States, based on kilowatt-hour sales. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states -"“ North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky -- representing a population of approximately 11 million people. Duke Energy’s commercial power and international business segments 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.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

 Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. 

 More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

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