UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 10, 2010

 

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

526 South Church Street, Charlotte, North Carolina  28202

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip code)

 

(704) 594-6200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240. 13e-4(c))

 

 

 

Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

Management of Duke Energy Corporation (“the Company”) is scheduled to meet with analysts and investors during March 2010, including during the Edison Electric Institute International Utility Conference from March 15-16, 2010.  During these meetings management will reaffirm the Company’s 2010 earnings per share guidance range of $1.25 to $1.30, on an adjusted diluted basis.

 

Additionally, the Company estimates an effective tax rate of approximately 31 percent for 2010, based upon adjusted earnings.  Based upon the Company’s current capital expenditure plan and the assumed continuation of its renewable investments, the effective tax rate for 2011 and 2012 is expected to approximate the 2010 effective tax rate, based upon adjusted earnings.

 

2010 Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share (“EPS”) Outlook

 

The above forecasted 2010 adjusted diluted EPS outlook range of $1.25-$1.30 per share, is a non-GAAP financial measure as it represents diluted EPS from continuing operations attributable to Duke Energy Corporation common shareholders, adjusted for the per share impact of special items and the mark-to-market impacts of economic hedges in the Commercial Power segment. Special items represent certain charges and credits which management believes will not be recurring on a regular basis, although it is reasonably possible such charges and credits could recur. Mark-to-market adjustments reflect the mark-to-market impact of derivative contracts, which is recognized in GAAP earnings immediately as such derivative contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting or regulatory accounting, used in Duke Energy’s hedging of a portion of the economic value of certain of its generation assets in the Commercial Power segment. The economic value of the generation assets is subject to fluctuations in fair value due to market price volatility of the input and output commodities (e.g., coal, power) and, as such, the economic hedging involves both purchases and sales of those input and output commodities related to the generation assets. Because the operations of the generation assets are accounted for under the accrual method, management believes that excluding the impact of mark-to-market changes of the economic hedge contracts from adjusted earnings until settlement better matches the financial impacts of the hedge contract with the portion of the economic value of the underlying hedged asset. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for adjusted diluted EPS is reported diluted EPS from continuing operations attributable to Duke Energy Corporation common shareholders, which includes the impact of special items and the mark-to-market impacts of economic hedges in the Commercial Power segment. Due to the forward-looking nature of this non-GAAP financial measure for future periods, information to reconcile it to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is not available at this time, as management is unable to project special items or mark-to-market adjustments for future periods.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

	DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
Date: March 10, 2010	By:	/s/ Steven K. Young
	Name:	Steven K. Young
	Title:	Senior Vice President and Controller

 

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