On May 21, 2007, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services raised its corporate credit rating on integrated electric company Duke Energy Corp. and all its subsidiaries to 'A-' from 'BBB'. The outlook is stable. The rating action reflects the company's significant reduction in business risk that has taken place over the past year through the disposal of various high-risk activities, such as trading and marketing operations, merchant generation, and real estate development ventures. The company's consolidated financial profile also improved. The sale of the trading and marketing operations significantly reduces demands on available liquidity, while the monetization of the real estate operations eliminates the need to fund those capital spending needs. Duke Energy spun off its gas transmission and distribution operations
