Upholding high ethical standards
Utility companies are among the most heavily regulated businesses in the U.S. At the local, state and federal levels, utilities are governed by a complex web of laws and regulations.
Regulators, public officials, community leaders, customers, competitors, investors, news reporters and advocacy groups all pay close attention to what we do — and how we do it.
We recognize that trust is at the core of all of our relationships. That is why we moved forward as quickly as possible to resolve concerns North Carolina regulators had with our board of directors’ decision to make a post-merger change in CEO.
We have three corporate codes that foster a culture of ethics and compliance at Duke Energy, from the board of directors to every employee, contract worker and supplier:
- Code of Business Ethics
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Board of Directors Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
These codes describe our ethical standards and address specific areas including:
- Fair treatment in the workplace
- Environmental stewardship and workplace safety
- Fair and honest business practices
- Protection and proper use of company assets
- Interactions with the community and public officials
- Compliance with laws, rules and regulations
- Reporting of any illegal or unethical behavior without fear of retaliation.
Duke Energy ensures compliance with the Code of Business Ethics through employee ethics training (required annually), systematic monitoring and, when necessary, enforcement. In addition, we consider compatibility with our business values when hiring, and new employees receive ethics training once on the job.
The company expects leaders at all levels to set an ethical tone, and to maintain an “open door” policy for employees to report concerns. Ethics leadership training helps managers and supervisors foster a culture of integrity and accountability in their work groups.
The company also provides anonymous channels for employees to seek guidance or report concerns regarding any illegal or unethical behavior, and solicits employee feedback on company and department ethics through annual surveys.
Duke Energy is committed to operating its business ethically — with honesty, transparency and accountability. Ethics and integrity have been cornerstones of the company since its founding in 1904, and remain so today.