Standard&Poor's Ratings Services noted today that Duke Energy Corp.'s (A-/Negative/A-2) announcement that it has reached agreements to sell its interests in American Ref-Fuel Co. LLC and the Alliance Pipeline LP are positive events for the company's credit quality. This is because the asset sales demonstrate management's commitment to streamlining operations and providing additional liquidity to the company. The events do not constitute a basis for rating actions, since the current ratings expected such asset sales.