NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) April 23, 2004--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that the completion of Duke Energy Corp.'s (BBB/Stable/A-2) sale of Australian assets to Alinta Ltd. is a favorable event for credit quality. Because the sale will remove about $900 million of debt associated with the Australian investments, it will provide the company with some incremental cash flow, and form a major step toward the company's deleveraging plan for 2004.