Duke Energy Corporation reports developments tied to one of the largest regulated utility platforms in the United States. The company operates electric utilities serving customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and natural gas utilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.
Recurring news themes include quarterly financial results, common and preferred stock dividends, electric grid modernization, generation investments, customer cost initiatives, and regulatory approvals affecting power plants and utility service. Company updates also cover nuclear generation, natural gas and other resource additions, federal and state regulatory matters, and Duke Energy Foundation community programs in the utility territories it serves.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) and its subsidiary Piedmont Natural Gas are using National Safe Digging Day on Aug. 11 to urge contractors, homeowners and businesses to call 811 at least three business days before any digging or excavation project. By calling this nationwide toll-free number, local utilities will mark underground lines such as electric, natural gas, water, sewer, phone and cable TV with stakes, flags or paint.
From January to June 2026, the companies reported nearly 4,500 damages to underground electric and natural gas lines across their service territories, including over 1,300 natural gas facility damages and more than 3,100 electric network damages. In 2025, they reported nearly 9,800 such incidents, underscoring the safety importance of using 811.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) priced a public offering of 35 million Equity Units, each with a stated amount of $50, for a total aggregate stated amount of $1.75 billion. Each Equity Unit initially comprises a stock purchase contract and 1/40 undivided interests in 4.85% Remarketable Senior Notes due 2032 and 2036, each with a $1,000 principal amount per full note. Total distributions on the Corporate Units will be 7.75% per year.
The offering is expected to close on August 13, 2026, with an option for underwriters to buy up to 5 million additional Corporate Units ($250 million aggregate stated amount). Under the purchase contracts, holders must buy a variable number of Duke Energy common shares by August 1, 2029, within minimum and maximum settlement rates of 0.3301 to 0.4126 shares per Equity Unit, based on a reference price of $121.1827 and threshold appreciation price of $151.4693.
Duke Energy expects net proceeds of about $1,719 million (or $1,965 million if the over-allotment is fully exercised), to be used to redeem $500 million of 3.25% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2082, repay commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) plans a public offering of 35 million equity units, each with a stated amount of $50, for an aggregate stated amount of $1.75 billion. Each unit initially consists of a purchase contract for future Duke Energy common stock and two 1/40 undivided beneficial ownership interests in remarketable senior notes, each with a principal amount of $1,000.
Duke Energy expects to grant underwriters an option to buy an additional 5 million corporate units (another $250 million stated amount) to cover over-allotments. The company intends to list the corporate units on the NYSE within 30 days of initial issuance, subject to approval, and plans to use net proceeds to redeem $500 million of 3.25% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2082, repay a portion of commercial paper, and for general corporate purposes.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) outlined steps to help North Carolina customers manage higher summer energy bills as extreme heat drives demand. Cooling demand across the state was 43% above normal by July 4, increasing air‑conditioning use and costs for many customers.
The company highlighted new digital tools such as Bill Insights, Usage Alerts and Home Energy Reports, plus payment assistance options including the Payment Assistance Finder, Share the Light Fund and income‑qualified weatherization programs. Duke Energy also cited long‑term cost actions: returning up to $3.1 billion in tax credits to customers (subject to regulatory approval), leveraging $96 million in Department of Energy grants, and targeting $2.3 billion in net customer savings through 2040 from combining its Carolinas utilities.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), through Duke Energy Progress, reached a settlement with North Carolina Public Staff and several customer and energy groups to revise its rate proposal. The agreement, if approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, would result in an average annual rate increase of 3.4% over two years starting Jan. 1, 2027.
The company said this represents a reduction of its previously proposed increase by more than half. Duke Energy shareholders will contribute an additional $10 million for low-income bill assistance and weatherization, on top of a prior $10 million Duke Energy Carolinas commitment. The settlement also includes a new Multiyear Rate Plan refund rider, potential customer refunds if infrastructure upgrades are not completed on time, accelerated refund of $120 million in annual federal tax credits, and reduced customer costs for Roxboro Steam Plant upgrades due to federal funding.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), through Duke Energy Florida, is advising customers on coping with August’s peak heat, noting recent summers have been 10%-15% hotter than long-term averages and that AC systems work harder as humidity rises. The company highlights lineworkers’ safety-focused efforts to maintain and strengthen the grid for more than 2 million Florida customers.
According to Duke Energy Florida, customers can lower usage by adjusting thermostats, cleaning air filters and using ceiling fans. Digital Usage Alert emails provide mid-month projections of energy use and bills. Free Home Energy Checks can be associated with up to $3,800 in improvement rebates, and the EnergyWise Home program offers monthly bill credits.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) announced that its second-quarter 2026 financial results are available in a news release on the investors section of duke-energy.com. President and CEO Harry Sideris and CFO Brian Savoy will review results and business updates during an investor presentation at 10 a.m. ET on Aug. 4, 2026, accessible via webcast or dial-in with confirmation code 485914666. A recording will be posted on the company’s investor website on Aug. 5.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), through the Duke Energy Foundation, is providing $300,000 in grants to 32 organizations across South Carolina to expand housing, nutrition and other essential services for older residents, with individual grants up to $20,000.
According to Duke Energy, the senior-focused funding, including this round, totals $870,000 since 2022 and represents the fifth consecutive year of support for South Carolina nonprofits serving older adults. The Foundation, funded by Duke Energy shareholders, provides more than $30 million in philanthropic support annually in the company’s service areas.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), through the Duke Energy Foundation, is providing a new $1 million grant investment to more than 50 nonprofit organizations across North Carolina to support food access, housing stability, health care, senior services and utility assistance for families, seniors and vulnerable residents.
The funding is split between two programs: $500,000 for Capacity Building grants to 27 organizations to upgrade technology, expand food distribution, improve case management, coordinate volunteers and strengthen fundraising; and $500,000 for Senior Vibrancy grants to 22 organizations that provide home repairs, meals, transportation, benefits navigation and emergency financial support so older adults can live independently and safely.
According to Duke Energy, this brings its North Carolina community and customer support since 2016 to over $65.6 million, including more than $34.6 million for essential-needs nonprofits and over $31 million in utility-bill assistance through the Share the Light Fund and Share the Warmth. Employees have also contributed more than 37,300 volunteer hours in the state over the same period.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) announced that growth in data centers under its Customer Protection Plus framework is expected to generate billions of dollars in long-term bill relief for customers. The company emphasizes that data centers will pay their fair share while contributing to savings for existing customers.
The framework rests on three priorities: preserving reliability through engineering studies before new large-load connections; powering responsible growth via long-term agreements that can include customer-funded connection costs, financial security, termination charges and curtailment provisions; and producing shared value when revenues from new large-load customers exceed their service costs, supporting grid investments and broader economic growth.