Prospectus excerpt:  Each of the 40,000,000 depositary shares offered hereby (the "Depositary Shares") represents a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, with a $25,000 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to $25.00 per Depositary Share) (the "Series A Preferred Stock") of Duke Energy Corporation, deposited with Equiniti Trust Company, as depositary (the "Depositary"). The Depositary Shares are evidenced by depositary receipts. As a holder of Depositary Shares, you will be entitled to a proportional fractional interest in all rights and preferences of the Series A Preferred Stock (including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights). You must exercise these rights through the Depositary. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, when, as and if declared by our board of directors (the "Board") or any duly authorized committee of the Board, will be payable on the liquidation preference amount, on a cumulative basis, quarterly in arrears on the 16th day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on June 16, 2019. Dividends will be payable out of amounts legally available for the payment of dividends at an annual rate equal to 5.75% of the $25,000 liquidation preference per share of Series A Preferred Stock (equivalent to $25.00 per Depositary Share). Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accumulate daily and be cumulative from, and including, the date of original issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock.