Progress Energy, Inc. : Progress Energy issues 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report

Online report discusses meeting the needs of changing communities

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 23, 2012) - Progress Energy issued its sixth corporate responsibility report today, reflecting the company's commitment to transparent communication on environmental performance, financial management, community partnerships and other business issues.

"The electric utility industry today is characterized by increasing change and ambiguity," said Bill Johnson, chairman, president and CEO of Progress Energy. "What remains clear is Progress Energy's strong commitment to the customers and communities we serve, to the environment we all want to protect and to our employees and shareholders, who make this enterprise possible. We know that millions of people are counting on us, and we are determined to exceed those expectations - today and every day into the future."

The report includes information on the company's balanced strategy to meet growing electricity demand and secure the region's energy future by investing in energy-efficiency programs, alternative and renewable energy sources and a state-of-the-art power system.

In addition, the report addresses the company's commitment to the communities it serves, including engagement, philanthropy, economic development and supplier-diversity efforts; addressing global climate change; the environment, including air and water quality; employees, including safety, ethics and diversity; and shareholders, with an emphasis on corporate governance, integrity and productivity.

The 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report is exclusively available at www.progress-energy.com/CRR. An executive summary of the report is also available for download.

Among the highlights from the 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report:

• Progress Energy customers saved more than 267 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2011, using our energy-efficiency programs, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 200,000 tons according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• More than 464,500 customers signed up for the company's EnergyWise HomeSM Program in the Carolinas and Florida, enabling Progress Energy to reduce power generation by as much as 758 megawatts (MW) during high-demand periods.
• Progress Energy Carolinas completed a new state-of-the-art natural gas-fired plant, began construction of two new natural gas-fired plants and retired the first of four coal plants.
• Company crews safely and quickly restored power after three major storm events in 2011 that affected approximately 970,000 customers.
• Progress Energy invested nearly $9 million through philanthropic programs in our communities.
• Working with partners, the company helped to bring more than 5,000 jobs and $1.2 billion in investments to our service areas.
• Total greenhouse gas emissions from Progress Energy power plants were the lowest in a decade.
• The company purchased 2.87 million megawatt-hours of renewable energy - more than doubling 2010 levels. That's equal to the average annual electricity use of about 200,000 households.
• The company's Occupational Safety and Health Administration injury and illness rate is below one injury/illness per 200,000 hours worked for the sixth consecutive year.
• Progress Energy delivered a 36.4 percent total return to shareholders last year (dividend plus stock price appreciation).

About Progress Energy
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with 23,000 megawatts of generation capacity and approximately $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve about 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008.www.progress-energy.com.

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