A Culture Of High Ethical Standards

Utilities are governed by a complex web of laws and regulations – making them one of the most heavily regulated industries in the U.S.

Many stakeholder groups pay close attention to what Duke Energy does: regulators, public officials, community leaders, customers, investors, advocacy groups and the news media.

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

Duke Energy ensures compliance with the Code of Business Ethics through required annual employee training, systematic monitoring and, when necessary, enforcement. In addition, we consider compatibility with our performance culture and expected behaviors 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 trust and accountability in their workgroups.

Additionally, the company provides anonymous channels for employees to seek guidance or report concerns regarding any illegal or unethical behavior without fear of retaliation, and solicits employee feedback on company and department ethics through annual surveys.