Duke Energy CORP 8-K, filed Sep 12, 2025
Duke Energy CORP (DUK)
About this 8-K
Duke Energy CORP filed this 8-K on September 12, 2025, reporting on events of September 11, 2025.
Items reported
- Item 5.02: Director or officer change, or executive pay
- Item 8.01: Other events
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
| Commission
File Number |
Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter, State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation, Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code, and Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code |
IRS
Employer Identification No. |
 |
||
|
(a |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
| Registrant | Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) |
Name
of each exchange on which registered |
| Duke Energy | |||
| Duke Energy | |||
| Duke Energy | each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share | ||
| Duke Energy | |||
| Duke Energy | |||
| Duke Energy |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Appointment of Jeffrey Guldner to the Board of Directors
On September 11, 2025 the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Duke Energy Corporation (the “Corporation”) appointed Jeffrey Guldner to the Board, effective September 15, 2025, with an initial term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board has also appointed Mr. Guldner to the Compensation and People Development Committee and the Finance and Risk Management Committee of the Board, effective September 15, 2025.
Mr. Guldner retired as chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (“Pinnacle West”) and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (“APS”), on March 31, 2025, after five years of leading the company. Mr. Guldner will remain employed by Pinnacle West in a non-executive advisory capacity through the end of March 2026. Prior to his time at APS, Mr. Guldner was a partner with the law firm of Snell & Wilmer LLP, where he practiced public utility, telecommunications, and energy law. Mr. Guldner also served as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy and was an assistant professor of naval science at the University of Washington.
The Board has affirmatively determined that Mr. Guldner is independent pursuant to the Corporation’s Standards for Assessing Director Independence, the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
As a non-employee director of the Corporation, Mr. Guldner will receive a pro-rated payment of the cash and stock annual retainer and will be eligible for other retainers (if applicable) in accordance with the Corporation’s Director Compensation Program, as set forth on Exhibit 10.4 of the Corporation’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2025, and will be eligible to participate in the Corporation’s Directors’ Savings Plan, which is described in the Annual Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on March 14, 2025. Mr. Guldner is subject to the Corporation’s Stock Ownership Guidelines, which require outside directors to own common stock (or common stock equivalents) of the Corporation with a value equal to at least five (5) times the annual Board cash retainer (i.e., an ownership level of $675,000) or retain fifty percent (50%) of his vested annual equity retainer.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Guldner and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Guldner was elected to the Board. There are no transactions in which Mr. Guldner has or will have an interest that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at this time.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On September 12, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Guldner’s appointment to the Board. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| 99.1 | Press Release, dated September 12, 2025. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION | |
| /s/ DAVID S. MALTZ | |
| David S. Maltz | |
| Title: Vice President, Legal, Chief Governance Officer and Corporate Secretary | |
| Dated: September 12, 2025 |
Exhibit 99.1
 |  |
Date: Sept. 12, 2025
Duke Energy board appoints Jeffrey Guldner as board member
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy’s board of directors today announced the appointment of Jeffrey Guldner as a new board member, effective Sept. 15. Guldner has also been appointed to be a member of the Compensation and People Development Committee and Finance and Risk Management Committee.
“As Duke Energy delivers day in and day out for our customers during a time of historic growth in the industry, Jeff’s leadership and energy sector insights bring incredible value to our company as we shape the future of energy,” said Harry Sideris, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy. “We look forward to working with Jeff as we advance Duke Energy’s strategy and continue to provide exemplary governance for our stakeholders.”
“From his distinguished career at Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (APS) Jeff has led through pivotal moments of execution and transformation,” said Ted Craver, independent chair of the Duke Energy board of directors. “His prior experience provides a unique lens that will strengthen the board with distinct perspectives and help drive constructive outcomes for Duke Energy, its employees, customers and shareholders.”
Guldner retired as chairman of the board, president and CEO of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its primary subsidiary, APS, on March 31, 2025, after five years of leading the company. He remains employed by Pinnacle West in a non-executive advisory capacity and will continue to serve in that role until March 2026.
During Jeff’s tenure as CEO, Arizona experienced unprecedented economic growth. Combining a clear vision with strong leadership, Jeff helped APS meet record energy demands while maintaining the affordability and reliability APS customers have depended on over its century of service. Above all, Jeff demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring every customer and employee was treated with profound respect.
He serves on the board of directors of the Smart Electric Power Alliance and the McCain Institute.
Prior to his career at APS, Guldner was a partner in the Phoenix office of Snell & Wilmer LLP, where he practiced public utility, telecommunications and energy law. Guldner also served as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy and was an assistant professor of naval science at the University of Washington. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa and graduated magna cum laude from the Arizona State University College of Law.
Duke Energy Corporation | 525 S. Tryon Street | Charlotte, NC 28202 | www.duke-energy.com
| Duke Energy News Release | 2 |
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.
###