Ellen Ruff to Retire from Duke Energy at Year End

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ellen Ruff, president, office of nuclear development, will retire from Duke Energy at the end of the year.

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"Ellen has provided outstanding leadership for Duke Energy over her career," said James E. Rogers, Duke Energy chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Her most recent role has been very important in helping further the development of new nuclear for serving our Carolinas customers' future needs."

Ruff joined Duke Energy in 1978 and has held various leadership positions across the company during her tenure. She was named vice president and general counsel of electric operations in 1997, and vice president and general counsel of corporate gas and electric operations in 1999. In 2001, Ruff became vice president of asset management and later served as group vice president of planning and external relations, where she led the company's strategic planning, compliance, environmental health and safety, and external relations efforts.

In 2006, Ruff took on the role of president of Duke Energy Carolinas, where she led Duke Energy's utility business in North Carolina and South Carolina, serving approximately 2.4 million customers.

"I have been privileged to serve our customers and work with many great teammates over my career," Ruff said. "As employees of Duke Energy, we are very fortunate to have both the opportunity to provide an important service, while also working hand in hand with our neighbors in bettering our communities."

Ron Jones, currently senior vice president of nuclear operations, will now lead the nuclear development team as it continues work on licensing and project development activities for the proposed Lee Nuclear Station.

Duke Energy Carolinas owns nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides approximately 19,000 megawatts of electricity capacity to approximately 2.4 million customers in a 22,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy is the third largest electric power holding company in the United States, based on kilowatt-hour sales. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky -- representing a population of approximately 11 million people. Duke Energy's commercial power and international business segments 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.

SOURCE Duke Energy