Duke Energy and Progress Energy Consider FERC’s Conditional Merger Orders’ Positive Developments
June 11, 2012
CHARLOTTE AND RALEIGH NC – June 11, 2012 – Duke Energy and Progress Energy consider the June 8 conditional orders by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to be a positive development in enabling the companies to close their proposed merger by the targeted date of July 1.
The companies have substantially completed their evaluation of the orders’ conditions and expect to make a compliance filing with the FERC within 15 days, as requested by the FERC. They will also work to secure final merger-related approvals from the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) and Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) as quickly as possible. The companies are continuing to target a July 1 closing date.
“We are pleased that the FERC has conditionally approved the merger, our Joint Dispatch Agreement and Joint Open Access Transmission Tariff,” said Jim Rogers, chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy. “We will quickly complete the evaluation of the conditions in the orders while working to obtain the remaining regulatory approvals to close the merger on July 1.”
“Receiving the FERC’s conditional orders last Friday is a major milestone for this transaction,” said Bill Johnson, chairman, president and CEO of Progress Energy. “Both companies have accelerated the integration planning efforts necessary to complete this transaction by July 1 and begin to deliver the substantial benefits of the merger as soon as possible.”
Remaining schedule to approve the merger
To date, the companies have received merger-related approvals from, or met the requirements of, the U.S. Department of Justice under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Kentucky Public Service Commission, Federal Communications Commission, and the shareholders of both companies.
The NCUC is required to approve the merger and the Joint Dispatch Agreement. The PSCSC must also approve the Joint Dispatch Agreement. Both commissions are expected to determine their schedules for considering the merger-related dockets soon.
While the companies continue to target a July 1 closing date, the timing is dependent on receiving the remaining state regulatory approvals and submitting additional compliance filings with the FERC. In addition, the consummation of the merger is contingent on satisfying all the conditions to the merger according to the terms of the merger agreement.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 12 million people. Its commercial power and international business segments own and 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.
About Progress Energy
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with 23,000 megawatts of generation capacity and approximately $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve about 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company’s website at www.progress-energy.com.
