NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) March 31, 2006--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it expects to assign its 'BBB' corporate credit rating to utility holding company Duke Energy Corp. upon the close of the merger with Cinergy Corp., expected to occur on April 1, 2006. At the same time, Standard&Poor's affirmed its 'BBB' corporate credit rating on Duke Energy's subsidiaries Duke Capital LLC, Texas Eastern Transmission L.P., PanEnergy Corp., WestCoast Energy Inc., and Union Gas Ltd. Standard&Poor's also expects to assign its 'BBB' corporate credit rating to Duke Power LLC, Duke Energy's regulated electric utility subsidiary. The CP rating at Duke Energy and Duke Capital is expected to be affirmed at 'A-2', and Standard
