Duke Energy : Florida to provide 2,400 trees to customers to honor Florida Arbor Day

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Duke Energy Florida, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation's Energy-Saving Trees program, is providing 2,400 trees in 1-gallon pots to customers - for free - to honor Florida Arbor Day, Jan. 19, 2018.

Duke Energy customers throughout the state can request a tree by visiting arborday.org/dukeenergy starting Jan. 19, until all trees are distributed.

The website enables a customer to insert his or her address and geospatially select the location on the property where the tree will be planted. The website will then recommend which of the available tree species is best suited for that region as well as the specific planting location on the customer's property that will provide the most energy-saving benefits for the home.

The tree is then shipped directly to the customer's home in a box with planting and care instructions.

The trees are expected to be delivered in time for National Arbor Day on April 27, 2018.

Available tree species include the Eastern Redbud, Common Crapemyrtle, Dahoon Holly, Yaupon Holly, Florida Prince Peach and Little Gem Southern Magnolia.

Duke Energy Florida is investing $85,000 to purchase the trees and has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to distribute them.

This is the second consecutive year Duke Energy has provided this opportunity. Last year, the company provided 2,200 trees to customers throughout the state.

'We strive to be good stewards of the environment while working to educate customers about planting the right tree in the right place so we can continue to provide safe and reliable energy,' said Harry Sideris, Duke Energy Florida president. 'Our ongoing Energy-Saving Trees partnership exemplifies Duke Energy's commitment to the environment and our customers, which is further evidenced by our Tree Line USA utility designation for 11 consecutive years.'

The Arbor Day Foundation's Energy-Saving Trees and Tree Line USA programs demonstrate how trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens by highlighting best management practices in public and private utility arboriculture. Tree Line USA evaluates applicants based on several criteria, including adherence to industry best practices for tree care, training of employees and contractors, implementation of public education and tree planting projects and participation in annual Arbor Day events.

For information about planning and planting vegetation around electrical facilities, please visit: https://www.duke-energy.com/community/trees-and-rights-of-way/how-we-manage-trees/plan-before-you-plant.

According to the Florida Forest Service, Florida has one of the oldest Arbor Day celebrations in the nation, having celebrated it on the third Friday in January since 1886. National Arbor Day has been observed since 1872 on the last Friday in April. Both state and national Arbor Day activities promote the benefits of trees in urban environment and encourage tree planting and care.

For additional information, customers can visit arborday.org/dukeenergy.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida owns and operates a diverse generation mix, including renewables, providing about 8,800 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.8 million customers in a 13,000-square-mile service area.

With its Florida regional headquarters located in St. Petersburg, Fla., Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.

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Contact: Peveeta Persaud
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