11-K 1 rsp-2017form11xk.htm FORM 11-K Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 
 
 
 
 
FORM 11-K


ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
of
DUKE ENERGY
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN


Commission File Number 1-32853


Issuer of Securities held pursuant to the Plan is
DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
550 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-1803

















 
 
 
 
 




DUKE ENERGY
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
Financial Statements:
 
 
 
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
 
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
 
 
Notes to Financial Statements
 
 
Supplementary Information:
 
 
 
Form 5500, Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i—Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2017
NOTE: All other schedules described by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, have been omitted because they are not applicable.



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Benefits Committee of Duke Energy Corporation
Charlotte, North Carolina

Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits of the Duke Energy Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes to the financial statements (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of Plan management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the auditing standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing audit procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by Plan management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Report on Supplementary Information
The supplementary information of Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2017 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplementary information is the responsibility of Plan management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplementary information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplementary information. In forming our opinion on the supplementary information, we evaluated whether the supplementary information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under Employee Retirement Income Security Act. In our opinion, the supplementary information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

/s/ McCONNELL & JONES LLP

 
We have served as the Plan’s auditors since 2008.
 
Houston, Texas
June 27, 2018




DUKE ENERGY
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2017 and 2016

(IN THOUSANDS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments
 
 
 
 
                Investments at fair value
 
$
7,771,970

 
$
6,824,897

                Fully benefit-responsive investment contracts at contract value
 
501,477

 
516,956

Total investments
 
8,273,447

 
7,341,853

 
 
 
 
 
Receivables
 
 
 
 
Notes receivable from participants
 
140,838

 
131,914

Employer's contributions
 
4,801

 
3,474

Pending transfer from Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. plans
 
253,617

 
-

Total receivables
 
399,256

 
135,388

 
 
 
 
 
Net assets available for benefits
 
$
8,672,703

 
$
7,477,241



See Notes to Financial Statements
4


DUKE ENERGY
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
(IN THOUSANDS)
 
 
 
Additions to net assets attributed to:
 
 
 
Investment income
 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
$
1,023,667

Interest and dividends
85,352

Net investment income
1,109,019

 
 
Interest income on notes receivable from participants
5,695

 
 
Contributions
 
Participants
265,780

Employer
177,660

Participants’ rollover
21,016

Total contributions
464,456

 
 
Total additions
1,579,170

 
 
Deductions from net assets attributed to:
 
 
 
Benefits paid to participants
669,959

Administrative Fees
6,672

Total deductions
676,631

 
 
Net increase prior to transfers
902,539

 
 
Transfer from Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. 401(k) and Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. Money Purchase Pension Plan
292,923

 
 
Net increase
1,195,462

Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year
7,477,241

Net assets available for benefits, end of year
$
8,672,703



See Notes to Financial Statements
5

DUKE ENERGY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2017 and 2016


1. Description of the Plan
The following description of the Duke Energy Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
Participation and Purpose
The Plan is a defined contribution plan sponsored by Duke Energy Corporation (Duke Energy). Duke Energy and each of its affiliated companies that is at least 80 percent owned and that participate in the Plan are collectively referred to as Participating Companies. The Plan is administered by the Duke Energy Benefits Committee (Benefits Committee or Plan Administrator) and trusteed by the Fidelity Management Trust Company (Fidelity).
The purpose of the Plan is to provide an opportunity for eligible employees to enhance their long-range financial security through employee contributions, matching contributions from Participating Companies, and investment among certain investment funds, one of which provides indirect ownership in Duke Energy common stock. The Plan is, in part, an employee stock ownership plan and is subject to the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).
Generally, employees of a Participating Company are eligible to enter and participate in the Plan if they are paid on the Participating Company’s U. S. payroll system and are non-union (unless agreed to in a collective bargaining agreement).
Contributions
Duke Energy automatically enrolls new full or part-time employees eligible for the Plan. The contributions made to the Plan on the employee’s behalf will be invested in one or more funds selected in accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator. The Company match is invested in the same manner as the employee contributions. If an employee chooses not to participate, Fidelity, the recordkeeper must be contacted by the employee to change the deferral rate to 0 percent.
Participants may elect to contribute (subject to certain limitations) in the form of pre-tax deferrals, Roth 401(k) contributions, and/or after-tax contributions up to 75 percent of eligible earnings per pay period without regard to years of service. Various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC) may limit the deferrals of some highly compensated employees. All pre-tax deferrals are exempt, up to the allowed maximum, from federal and most state income tax withholding in the year they are deferred, but are subject to payroll taxes. Participant deferrals are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 401(k) of the IRC.
Duke Energy generally matches 100 percent of the first 6 percent of pre-tax and/or Roth 401(k) contributions from the employee’s eligible compensation. A different matching contribution formula may apply to certain groups of employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Participant after-tax contributions and matching contributions are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 401(m) of the IRC. Participating companies also provide a non-elective company retirement contribution of 4 percent of eligible compensation for employees who are not eligible to participate in a defined benefit plan. These contributions are invested in the same manner as the employee elected contributions. Starting on January 1, 2018, participating companies also make employer transition credit contributions of 3 percent to 5 percent (based on service) of eligible compensation for certain Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. employees.
Participants age 50 or older by the end of the year may contribute an additional pre-tax and/or Roth 401(k) contribution amount over and above the IRC limits each year. For 2017, the IRC allowed participants age 50 or older to contribute up to $6,000 over and above the $18,000 pre-tax and/or Roth 401(k) contribution limit. Participating companies do not provide a base company match on these additional contributions.
Rollover Contributions to the Plan
Rollover contributions represent amounts recorded when participants elect to contribute amounts to their Plan accounts from other eligible, tax-qualified retirement plans or qualified individual retirement accounts. Rollover contributions of approximately $21.0 million were made to the Plan in 2017.
Investments
Participants may invest their Plan accounts in any or all of the core investment funds offered in the Plan, which include stock, bond, specialty, short-term and target retirement date funds, as well as the Duke Energy Common Stock Fund. The value of an account is updated each business day. As of December 31, 2017, 20 funds were offered for investment.
The Plan offers a brokerage option, BrokerageLink, whereby participants can elect to invest up to 90 percent of their Plan accounts in numerous publicly traded securities (excluding Duke Energy securities) and mutual funds not offered directly by the Plan.
The Plan also offers an investment advisory service (Professional Management) program through the independent investment advice and management services provider, Financial Engines Advisors, LLC. For 2017, participants in the Professional Management program are charged an annual fee of 0.50 percent on their average account balance. Participants may cancel their participation in the Professional Management program at any time without penalty. Online advice is also available at no additional cost to the participant.

6

DUKE ENERGY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2017 and 2016


Participant Accounts
Individual accounts are maintained for each Plan participant. Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions, the Participating Company’s contributions, and allocations of Plan earnings and charged with benefit payments, allocations of Plan losses, and administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant elections and earnings and/or account balances, as defined in the Plan document.
The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account. The selection from available investment funds is the sole responsibility of each participant, and the Plan is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 404(c) of ERISA. A participant may elect or change investment funds and/or the contribution allocation percentage among funds at any time.
Vesting and Distribution
A participant is 100 percent vested in their Plan account balance attributable to employee, employer transition credit contributions, and company matching contributions (and earnings on those contributions). Employer retirement contributions and associated investment earnings are subject to a three-year vesting requirement and also vest, if while employed the employee dies, becomes disabled or attains age 65. The Plan provides for several different types of in-service withdrawals for certain contributions, including hardship and age 59 1/2 withdrawals, and withdrawals of rollover and after-tax accounts at any time. A hardship distribution must comply with Section 401(k) of the IRC.
Forfeitures
Generally, upon distribution of vested balances following termination of employment, participants’ nonvested balances are forfeited. Such forfeitures can be applied to reduce employer contributions or Plan administrative expenses. At December 31, 2017 forfeitures of $0.5 million were included in the Plan assets. Forfeited nonvested participant balances of $1.0 million were applied to reduce employer contributions in 2017. Forfeited non vested participant balances of $0.1 million were used to reduce Plan administrative expense/pay unrelated business tax in 2017.
Payment of Benefits
Upon termination of employment, including retirement, death or disability, a participant or, if the participant is deceased, his or her beneficiary, may request the distribution of all or a portion of the balance of the participant’s Plan account. Distributions may be made as soon as practicable after the occasion for the distribution, or generally may be delayed until no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the participant attains age 70 ½. A beneficiary of a deceased participant may elect that a distribution be delayed for up to five years following the date of death. Distributions are paid as soon as practicable in a lump sum for vested benefits of $1,000 or less.
Notes Receivable From Participants
Participants may borrow, with some limitations, from their accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of (i) $50,000 minus the highest outstanding loan balance during the 12-month period prior to the new loan, or (ii) 50 percent of their vested account balances. Loans are to be repaid within 58 months, or up to 15 years for the purchase of a primary residence, through regular payroll deductions (and, following termination of employment, as prescribed by the Benefits Committee). The loan is secured by 50 percent of the balance in the participant’s Plan account at the issuance of the loan and bears interest at a rate of 1 percent more than the prime interest rate in effect at the issuance of the loan, as determined by the Benefits Committee. Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions (and, following termination of employment, as prescribed by the Benefits Committee). Loan receipts will be reinvested based on the participant’s investment election for employee contributions at the time of repayment.
Plan Merger
Effective at the close of business on December 31, 2017, the Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan and the Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. Money Purchase Pension Plan were merged into the Plan. As a result, Piedmont plan assets totaling approximately$292.9 million were transferred into the Plan on December 31, 2017. The transfer is included as Transfer from Piedmont 401(k) and Piedmont Money Purchase Pension Plan in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017. In the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2017, approximately $253.6 million of the assets transferred is included as Pending transfer from Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. plans, $33.5 million is included in Investments at fair value, and $5.8 million is included in Notes receivable from participants.
Plan Termination
Duke Energy expects and intends to continue the Plan indefinitely but has the right under the Plan to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA. In the event of termination of the Plan, the net assets of the Plan would be distributed to participants based on their Plan accounts.

7

DUKE ENERGY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2017 and 2016


2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP).
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires Plan management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits and changes therein. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Plan invests in various securities which are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
Investments are reported at fair value except for the fully benefit-responsive synthetic guaranteed investment contracts (GICs), which are stated at contract value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. See Note 7 for discussion of fair value measurements. Contract value represents contributions and reinvested income, less any withdrawals plus accrued interest, because these investments have fully benefit-responsive features. Contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. See Note 6 for further discussion of fully benefit-responsive investment contracts.
The Duke Energy Common Stock Fund is comprised of shares of Duke Energy common stock as well as cash and cash equivalents to facilitate execution of daily transactions on a unitized basis. Duke Energy common stock is valued at its closing market price reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Management fees and operating expenses charged to the Plan for investments were deducted from income earned on a daily basis and were not separately reflected. Consequently, management fees and operating expenses are reflected as a reduction of investment return for such investments.
Notes Receivable From Participants
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. Delinquent participant loans are reclassified as distributions based upon the terms of the Plan document.
Payment of Benefits
Benefits paid to participants are recorded when paid.
Administrative Expenses
A portion of administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by Duke Energy.
Reclassification
Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2016 financial statements to conform to the 2017 financial statements presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on changes in net assets available for benefits.
3. Exempt Party-in-Interest Transactions (PII)
Fidelity is the Trustee for all Plan investments, as defined by the Plan. Fidelity invests a significant portion of the Duke Energy Common Stock Fund in shares of Duke Energy Common Stock, which qualifies these transactions as PII. BrokerageLink is managed by Fidelity which qualifies them as a PII. These PII transactions are exempt under ERISA.
4. Federal Income Tax Status
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has determined and informed Duke Energy by a letter dated March 16, 2015, that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is exempt from federal income tax under the provisions of Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986. The Plan is intended to be tax-qualified under Section 401(a) of the IRC of 1986, as amended. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan administrator and the Plan’s legal counsel believe the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and the Plan and the related trust continue to be tax exempt. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

8

DUKE ENERGY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2017 and 2016


US GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. There are no uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is not currently under audit by any taxing jurisdictions. Plan management believes it is no longer subject to income tax examination for years prior to 2014.
5. Investment Risk
Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit and overall market volatility risks. Further, due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.
The Plan has invested a significant portion of its assets in the Duke Energy Common Stock Fund. This investment in the Duke Energy Common Stock Fund approximates 20 percent and 24 percent of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As a result of this concentration, any significant fluctuation in the market value of the Duke Energy Common Stock Fund could affect individual participant accounts and the net assets of the Plan.
6. Benefit-Responsive Investments
The Plan has an interest in a Stable Value Fund that has investments in fixed income securities and bond funds and may include derivative instruments, such as futures contracts and swap agreements. The Stable Value Fund also enters into a wrapper contract issued by a third-party.
As described in Note 2, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits attributable to these contracts. For indirect investments in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts within collective investment trusts, net asset value per share should be calculated in a manner consistent with the measurement principles of ASC 946. As required by ASC 946, the net asset value calculated by the fund is based on the net assets, which includes fully benefit-responsive contracts at contract value. This net asset value represents the plan's fair value. As a result, investments are reported on the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits at fair value except for the fully benefit-responsive synthetic guaranteed investment contracts (GICs), which are stated at contract value. Contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value. The Stable Value Fund's 2017 contract value of $584.7 million approximates its fair value of $584.2 million.
Occurrence of certain events may limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. The Plan administrator does not believe that the occurrence of such an event is probable.
There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of the contract issuer or otherwise. The crediting interest rate is based on a formula agreed upon with the issuer, but it may not be less than zero percent. Such interest rates are reviewed on a quarterly basis for resetting.
As of December 31, 2017, the contract value of the Plan’s fully benefit-responsive synthetic guaranteed contracts within the Stable Value Fund was approximately $501.5 million. As of December 31, 2016, the contract value of the Plan’s fully benefit-responsive synthetic guaranteed contracts within the Stable Value Fund was approximately $517.0 million.
7. Fair Value Measurements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in US GAAP and expands disclosure requirements about fair value measurements. Under ASC 820, fair value is considered to be the exchange price in an orderly transaction between market participants to sell an asset or transfer a liability at the measurement date. The fair value definition under ASC 820 focuses on an exit price, which is the price that would be received by the Plan to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability versus an entry price, which would be the price paid to acquire an asset or received to assume a liability. Although ASC 820 does not require additional fair value measurements, it applies to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements.
The Plan determines fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on the following fair value hierarchy, as prescribed by ASC 820, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels:
Level 1 inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Plan has the ability to access. An active market for the asset or liability is one in which transactions for the asset or liability occurs with sufficient frequency and volume to provide ongoing pricing information.
Level 2 inputs: Inputs other than quoted market prices included in Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include, but are not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active and inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rate curves and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, credit risk and default rates.

9

DUKE ENERGY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2017 and 2016


Level 3 inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs reflect the Plan’s own assumptions about the factors that other market participants would use in pricing an investment that would be based on the best information available in the circumstances.
Changes in Fair Value Levels
The availability of market data is monitored to assess the appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy. Changes in economic conditions or model-based valuation techniques may require the transfer of financial instruments from one fair value level to another or revision of the classification of investments based on current information available.
We evaluated the valuation methodology for the Stable Value Fund and based upon the structure of the underlying investments and insurance contract wrappers have determined that the Stable Value Fund fulfills the criteria for a benefit responsive contract as defined in ASU 2015-12 and has been reclassified as such in the statements of net assets available for benefits for 2017 with a retrospection reclassification for 2016. There was no impact to the previously reported net asset values for 2016 as a result of this reclassification.
The following table provides by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s investments at fair value as of December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
 
2017
Description
Total Level 1
 
Total
BrokerageLink
$
639,748

 
$
639,748

 
 
 
 
Investments measured at net asset value:


 

Duke Energy common stock fund
 
 
1,678,506

Institutional funds


 
5,370,512

Stable value fund - collective investment trusts


 
83,204

 


 


Total investments at fair value
 
 
$
7,771,970

The following table provides by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan's investments at fair value as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 
2016
Description
Total Level 1
 
Total
BrokerageLink
$
566,835

 
$
566,835

 
 
 
 
Investments measured at net asset value:
 
 
 
Duke Energy common stock fund
 
 
1,798,526

Institutional funds
 
 
4,364,474

Stable value fund - collective investment trusts
 
 
95,062

 
 
 
 
Total investments at fair value


 
$
6,824,897

Valuation methods of the primary fair value measurements disclosed above are as follows. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2017 or 2016.
Common stock/Corporate debt/US Government securities: Valued at the closing price in the principal active market on which the securities are traded. Principal active markets include published exchanges such as NASDAQ, NYSE, NYMEX and Chicago Board of Trade, as well as pink sheets, which is an electronic quotation system that displays quotes for broker-dealers for many over-the-counter securities. The Plans’ investments in common stock, corporate debt and US Government securities within the BrokerageLink account are valued using Level 1 measurements.
The Common Stock fund is comprised of common stock and a short-term cash component. The value of a unit reflects the combined market value of the underlying stock and market value of the short-term cash position. The market value of the common stock portion of the fund is based on the closing market price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange times the number of shares held in the fund. Investments in common collective investment trust funds are stated at fair values, which have been determined based on the net asset value of the funds. Net asset values are determined by the organization sponsoring such funds by dividing the fund’s net assets at fair value by its units outstanding at each valuation date. There are currently no redemption restrictions or redemption notice period, and the redemption frequency was immediate for these funds.
Mutual funds: Valued at the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. The Plans’ investments in mutual funds within the BrokerageLink account are valued using Level 1 measurements.

10

DUKE ENERGY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2017 and 2016


Institutional funds: The fair value of these investments has been estimated using the net asset value of units held by the Plan at year end. Net asset value is not a publicly-quoted price in an active market. There are currently no redemption restrictions or redemption notice period, and the redemption frequency was immediate for these funds.
Stable Value Fund: Valued at the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. Per FASB guidance on indirect investments in Fully Benefit Responsive Investment Contracts (ASU 2015-07 and 2015-12), net asset value can be used as a practical expedient to approximate fair value. Investments in units of underlying funds are valued at their respective net asset values. Deposits to and withdrawals from the Stable Value Fund may be made daily at the current net asset value per unit. There are currently no redemption restrictions or redemption notice period, however, the Plan does not allow for direct exchanges from the Stable Value Fund to the BrokerageLink account. Exchanges from the Stable Value Fund must be made first with another Plan fund and held by that Plan fund for at least 90 days before an exchange can occur with the BrokerageLink account.
The availability of observable market data is monitored to assess the appropriate classification of the Plan’s investments within the fair value hierarchy. Changes in economic conditions or valuation techniques may require the transfer of investments from one fair value level to another. Transfers between levels are evaluated for their significance based upon the nature of the investments and size of the transfer relative to the net assets available for benefits.
8. Plan Changes
Effective as of July 1, 2017, the Plan was amended to restrict the amount that could be invested in the Duke Energy Common Stock Fund (i.e., a participant is limited to contributing 20% of new contributions into the fund and may not make exchanges into the fund if it would result in 20% or more of a participant’s account being invested in the fund).
Effective as of November 18, 2017, the Plan was amended to fully vest certain employees affected by the expiration of the agreement to service the Gulf Wind energy project.
Effective as of January 3, 2017, the Plan was amended to provide service credit for Calpine employment.
Effective as of March 6, 2017, the Plan was amended to expand the permissible beneficiary designations.
Effective as of January 1, 2018, the Plan was amended to add employer transition credit contributions for certain Piedmont employees.
Effective as of January 1, 2017, the Plan was amended to restrict employer retirement contributions automatically so as to prevent the limitations of Code section 415 from being exceeded.
Effective as of December 31, 2017, the Plan was amended to provide for the mergers of the Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan and Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. Money Purchase Pension Plan into the Plan.
Effective as of January 1, 2018, the Plan was amended to reflect Florida bargaining changes (i.e., employees hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2018 are eligible for employer retirement contributions).
Effective as of December 31, 2017, the Plan was amended to incorporate claims procedures for disability benefits.
Effective as of October 3, 2016, the Plan was amended to exclude certain Piedmont Company employees from participation and credit certain service with a Piedmont company under the Plan.
Effective as of January 1, 2016, the Plan was amended to add partial distributions as a form of payment for beneficiaries, and, effective as of January 1, 2017, to, reflect bargaining agreement changes for USW Locals 5541-06 and 12049, and, as of various dates, to clarify certain other provisions.

11


DUKE ENERGY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
EIN: 20-2777218 PN: 002
Form 5500, Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2017
(a)
(b) Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor or Similar Party
(c) Description of Investment including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par or Maturity Value
(d) Cost
(e) Current
 Market  Value (in thousands)
*
Duke Energy Common Stock Fund
Common Stock
**
$
1,678,506

*
US Equity Small/Midcap Blend Fund
Institutional Fund
**
597,414

*
US Equity All Cap Blend Fund
Institutional Fund
**
495,924

*
Non-US Equity Blend Fund
Institutional Fund
**
750,914

*
Fixed Income Blend Fund
Institutional Fund
**
384,073

*
US Equity S&P 500 Index Fund
Commingled Fund
**
1,730,667

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2010
Institutional Fund
**
20,816

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2015
Institutional Fund
**
73,458

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2020
Institutional Fund
**
226,004

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2025
Institutional Fund
**
268,419

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2030
Institutional Fund
**
222,298

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2035
Institutional Fund
**
129,870

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2040
Institutional Fund
**
120,487

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2045
Institutional Fund
**
126,087

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2050
Institutional Fund
**
87,139

*
Target Retirement Date Fund 2055
Institutional Fund
**
61,254

*
Target Retirement Date Fund Post Retirement
Institutional Fund
**
35,043

*
Diversified Real Asset Fund
Commingled Fund
**
9,017

*
Fidelity BrokerageLink
Self-directed brokerage account
**
639,748

 
Stable Value Fund
Common Collective Trust Fund
**
584,173

*
Global Real Estate Investment Trust Fund
Commingled Fund
**
31,627

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Investments
 
 
$
8,272,938

 
 
 
 
 
*
Participant Loans
Participant Loans
– 0 –
140,838

 
 
Interest Rates ranging from 3.25% - 9.25%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
$
8,413,776

* Permitted party-in-interest
** Cost information is not required for participant-directed investments, and therefore, is not included

12


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Duke Energy Benefits Committee has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
DUKE ENERGY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Date:
 
 
June 27, 2018
By:
 
/s/ Thomas Silinski
 
 
 
Thomas Silinski
 
 
 
Vice President, Total Rewards and Human Resource Operations