Duke Energy Focus on Carolinas

{"s" : "duk,pgn","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Duke Energy Corporations (NYSE: DUK - News) regulated utility subsidiary Duke Energy Carolinas is asking for bids for electricity produced by wind energy as well as renewable energy certificates from wind generation from facilities located within North Carolina. Bids would be accepted no later than October 14, 2011.The focus of Duke Energy towards wind based electricity as well as certificates come on a heel of its move towards compliance with a North Carolina Renewable Energy as well as Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard. Proposals from qualified bidders will be evaluated based on cost as well as other factors. Duke seeks offers of renewable energy certificates from facilities which are operational prior to December 31, 2014.Duke Energy Carolinas owns nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas as well as hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides approximately 19,000 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 2.4 million customers in a 24,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina as well as South Carolina.Duke Energys, in a Carolinas, will also receive a boost when a ongoing partnership proceedings with Progress Energy Inc. (NYSE: PGN - News) are completed. Earlier in January 2011, both companies have unanimously approved a definitive partnership agreement to combine a two companies in a stock-for-stock transaction. Duke Energy expects a partnership would enable a customers to save $600-800 million in fuel costs in a Carolinas over a next five years.Charlotte, North Carolina-based Duke Energy Corp. is a diversified energy company with a portfolio of domestic as well as international, natural gas as well as electric, regulated as well as unregulated busi! nesses. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio as well as Kentucky, comprising a population of approximately eleven million.Duke Energys stable U.S. electricity as well as gas operations provide a relatively stable as well as growing earnings stream. Looking ahead, higher rates through recent settlement agreements in Kentucky, North Carolina as well as South Carolina will mount a companys long-term goal of 4%6% earnings growth in good stead.Duke Energys Commercial Power as well as International Business segment own as well as operate diverse energy generation assets in North America as well as Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in a U.S.Duke Energy currently has a short term Zacks #3 Rank (Hold), which translates into a long-term Neutral recommendation for a stock.DUKE ENERGY CORP NEW (DUK): Read a Full Research ReportPROGRESS ENERGY INC (PGN): Read a Full Research ReportZacks Investment Research