Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, renewable generation, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. It also engages in the wholesale of electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities. This segment serves approximately 8.2 million customers in 6 states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States covering a service territory of approximately 91,000 square miles; and owns approximately 50,259 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation natural gas customers; and owns, operates, and invests in pipeline transmission and natural gas storage facilities. It has approximately 1.6 million customers, including 1.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as 550,000 customers in southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The Commercial Renewables segment acquires, owns, develops, builds, and operates wind and solar renewable generation projects, including nonregulated renewable energy and energy storage services to utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and corporate customers. It has 23 wind, 178 solar, and 2 battery storage facilities, as well as 71 fuel cell locations with a capacity of 3,554 MW across 22 states. The company was formerly known as Duke Energy Holding Corp. and changed its name to Duke Energy Corporation in April 2005. The company was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Here are 1-3 brief analogies for Duke Energy (DUK):
- Like AT&T (the telecom company), but it delivers electricity and natural gas instead of phone and internet services.
- Like the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), but instead of mail, it delivers electricity and natural gas to homes and businesses across several states.
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- Electric Power Service: Duke Energy generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across its service territories.
- Natural Gas Service: The company distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers primarily in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio.
- Commercial Renewables: Duke Energy develops, owns, and operates utility-scale wind and solar power generation facilities across the United States.
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Duke Energy (symbol: DUK) is an electric power and natural gas holding company. As a regulated utility, it primarily sells electricity and natural gas directly to a broad base of end-use customers rather than to a few major corporate customers.
The company primarily serves the following categories of customers:
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Residential Customers: This category includes individual households and consumers who use electricity and natural gas for their homes. These customers represent a significant portion of Duke Energy's customer base, utilizing energy for heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances.
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Commercial Customers: This category encompasses a wide range of businesses, including small to medium-sized enterprises such as retail stores, office buildings, restaurants, hospitals, schools, and government facilities. They use energy for their operations, lighting, HVAC systems, and equipment.
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Industrial Customers: This category consists of large manufacturing plants, factories, and other energy-intensive industrial operations. These customers typically have very high energy demands for production processes, machinery, and large-scale facilities.
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Harry Sideris, President and Chief Executive Officer
Harry Sideris became President and Chief Executive Officer of Duke Energy effective April 1, 2025. He is a 29-year veteran of Duke Energy and its predecessors, having started his career at Progress Energy (formerly Carolina Power & Light) prior to its merger with Duke Energy in 2012. Before becoming CEO, Sideris served as president of Duke Energy, leading the company's electric and natural gas utilities. His previous leadership roles include executive vice president of customer experience, solutions and services; president of Duke Energy's utility operations in Florida; and vice president of environmental, health and safety. Information regarding him founding or managing other companies, selling companies he was previously involved with to an acquirer, or a pattern of managing companies backed by private equity firms is not available in the provided sources.
Brian Savoy, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Brian Savoy assumed the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Duke Energy in September 2022. He joined Duke Energy in 2001 and has held various leadership positions within the company, including executive vice president and chief strategy and commercial officer, chief transformation and administrative officer, and chief accounting officer and controller. Prior to joining Duke Energy, Savoy was a manager with the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. He played a key role in the successful wind-down and disposition of Duke Energy North America in 2005. Information regarding him founding or managing other companies (beyond his role at Deloitte & Touche), selling companies he was previously involved with to an acquirer, or a pattern of managing companies backed by private equity firms is not available in the provided sources.
Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, Executive Vice President and CEO, Duke Energy Carolinas and Head of the Natural Gas Business Unit
Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe will take on the role of Executive Vice President and CEO of Duke Energy Carolinas and head of the Natural Gas Business Unit effective July 1, 2025. He joined Duke Energy in 2002 and previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary. His past experience at Duke Energy also includes serving as president of Duke Energy's electric utility operations in South Carolina. Before joining Duke Energy, Ghartey-Tagoe was a partner with McGuireWoods LLP.
Alex Glenn, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Alex Glenn will become Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, effective July 2025, overseeing legal, ethics, compliance, and corporate audit functions. He has nearly 30 years of experience with Duke Energy and its predecessors. Previously, Glenn was the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for Duke Energy Florida and Midwest. Before joining the company, he practiced energy law at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
Louis Renjel, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Duke Energy Florida and Midwest, and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Louis Renjel will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Duke Energy Florida and Midwest, while also continuing as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, effective July 1, 2025. Renjel joined Duke Energy in March 2017, bringing significant expertise from his previous long tenure as an executive at CSX Corporation.
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The key risks to Duke Energy's business operations primarily stem from the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding clean energy, the increasing impact of climate change and extreme weather events, and significant financial leverage.
- Regulatory and Policy Risks: Duke Energy operates in a highly regulated environment, facing significant challenges related to the clean energy transition and securing rate increases. The company has encountered pushback from regulators and state leaders regarding proposed rate adjustments, which impacts its ability to recover costs and achieve adequate returns on investments. Furthermore, compliance with numerous state and federal environmental regulations concerning air quality, water quality, waste management, and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly coal ash disposal, presents ongoing challenges and potential for litigation and reputational damage. The mandated transition to cleaner energy sources, including carbon reduction targets, is complicated by resistance to new natural gas infrastructure investments and concerns about the pace of phasing out fossil fuels.
- Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Duke Energy's infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to the rising frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena, such as storms, hurricanes, extreme heat, and flooding. A 2023 study indicated that extreme heat and flooding pose the greatest risks to Duke Energy's electrical transmission and distribution system by 2050, particularly affecting substations and transmission lines. Addressing these threats necessitates substantial investments in grid hardening and resilience improvements to ensure operational reliability and mitigate service disruptions.
- High Debt Levels and Interest Rate Sensitivity: Duke Energy carries a substantial debt burden, which is a concern given its capital-intensive projects, particularly those related to the clean energy transition. The company's reliance on debt to finance these investments makes it susceptible to changes in interest rates, which could increase borrowing costs and impact its financial health. With a low interest coverage ratio, there is a limited margin of safety if interest expenses rise further.
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Accelerated Adoption of Distributed Generation and Energy Storage: The rapidly declining costs of rooftop solar panels and battery storage, combined with increasing consumer desire for energy independence and resilience, pose a clear threat. This enables customers to generate their own electricity and reduce reliance on utility-provided grid power, directly challenging Duke Energy's traditional business model of centralized generation and electricity sales. Evidence includes the ongoing reduction in solar and battery costs, state and federal incentives, and the increasing rate of customer-owned solar installations in Duke Energy's service territories.
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Rapid Decarbonization Mandates and Stranded Assets: Increasing regulatory pressure and ambitious mandates for decarbonization from state and federal governments represent a significant threat. These mandates could force Duke Energy to prematurely retire its substantial investments in fossil fuel-fired power plants (coal and natural gas) before the end of their useful life, leading to the risk of "stranded assets." This necessitates massive and rapid capital investments in new, cleaner generation sources, potentially at a faster pace and higher cost than currently planned. Evidence includes aggressive carbon reduction goals set by governments (e.g., North Carolina's HB951) and Duke Energy's own commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, signaling a fundamental shift in the operating environment.
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Duke Energy (DUK) operates primarily in three main segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The addressable market sizes for their main products and services in the United States are as follows:
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Electric Utilities and Infrastructure: This segment involves the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity to 8.6 million customers across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.
- The U.S. electricity sector generated approximately $491 billion in revenue in 2023.
- The overall U.S. power market size was valued at USD 363.74 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 380.33 billion in 2025.
- The U.S. electricity transmission and distribution market alone was valued at USD 82.96 billion in 2022.
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Gas Utilities and Infrastructure: This segment focuses on the transportation and sale of natural gas, serving 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky.
- The U.S. natural gas distribution market was valued at USD 170.0 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to USD 186.0 billion by 2032.
- Another estimate places the U.S. natural gas distribution market size at $174.7 billion in 2024, projected to reach $222.5 billion in 2025.
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Commercial Renewables: Duke Energy develops and operates renewable energy projects, including wind and solar farms, across the United States. While a specific total addressable market size solely for "commercial renewables development and operation" is not distinctly separated from the broader electricity market in the provided data, the renewable energy segment constituted 23.1% of the U.S. power market share in 2024. Duke Energy Renewables operates 15 wind farms and 21 solar farms with nearly 1,800 megawatts of generating capacity in 12 states.
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Duke Energy (DUK) is anticipated to experience revenue growth over the next 2-3 years, driven by several key factors:
- Rate Adjustments and Constructive Regulatory Outcomes: Duke Energy expects revenue growth through the implementation of new multi-year rate plans and favorable regulatory decisions in its service territories, including Florida, the Carolinas, and Indiana. These outcomes allow for the recovery of investments and ensure appropriate returns.
- Customer and Population Growth: The company is benefiting from consistent residential customer growth, particularly in high-growth states like North Carolina and Florida. Overall population growth in the Southeast regions served by Duke Energy contributes to an expanding customer base and increased energy demand.
- Increased Energy Demand from Economic Development: A significant driver of future revenue growth is the surging electricity demand from economic development projects, most notably the expansion of data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities. Duke Energy projects that data centers alone could account for 25% of new customer load by 2028, and load growth from 2027 to 2029 is expected to accelerate.
- Strategic Capital Investments in Infrastructure and Clean Energy Transition: Duke Energy plans substantial capital expenditures, including an estimated $87 billion during the 2025-2029 period, to modernize its infrastructure, enhance service reliability, and strengthen its renewable generation portfolio. These investments include advancing solar procurement in the Carolinas and Florida, as well as incorporating natural gas for dispatchable power, which are critical for meeting growing demand and supporting the clean energy transition.
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Share Issuance
- In November 2019, Duke Energy priced a public offering of 25 million shares of its common stock at $86.45 per share, with settlement expected on or prior to December 31, 2020.
- Duke Energy plans to raise $6.5 billion in equity during its 2025-2029 capital plan, including $1 billion in 2025, to help finance its increased capital expenditures.
- The company aims to raise $500 million annually through equity over the five-year period starting in 2024 to support its growth strategy.
Capital Expenditures
- Duke Energy plans to invest $83 billion over the next five years (2025-2029), representing a 13.7% increase from prior projections, with a focus on infrastructure modernization and meeting growing energy demand.
- In 2021, the company outlined a $59 billion capital spending plan for the five-year period ending in 2024, with approximately 70% allocated to clean energy and green infrastructure projects.
- The primary focus of capital expenditures includes doubling its renewable capacity to 16 GW by 2025, tripling regulated renewable capacity by 2030, enhancing grid reliability and resiliency, supporting data center demand, and adding 5 GW of natural gas generation by 2029.
