DUKE ENERGY CORP
S-3, EX-1.(A), 2000-12-19
ELECTRIC SERVICES
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                                                                    Exhibit 1-A

                              $

                            DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

                     SERIES  % SENIOR NOTES DUE

                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                                         ,

Gentlemen:

1. Introductory. DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION, a North Carolina corporation
("Corporation"), proposes to issue and sell $        aggregate principal
amount of Series  % Senior Notes due   ("Notes"), to be issued pursuant to the
provisions of a Senior Indenture, dated as of September 1, 1998, as the same
may be amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures to the date hereof
(including the supplemental indenture dated as of       ,    , relating to the
Notes), between the Corporation and The Chase Manhattan Bank (the
"Indenture"), and hereby agrees with the several Underwriters hereinafter
named ("Underwriters") as follows:

2. Representations and Warranties of the Corporation. The Corporation
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

  (a) A registration statement (No. 333-     , which also constitutes a post-
      effective amendment to two previous registration statements Nos. 333-
      14209 and 333-79065), including a combined prospectus, relating to the
      Notes has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
      ("Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"). Such
      registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each
      in the form heretofore delivered to you, and, excluding exhibits
      thereto but including all documents incorporated by reference in the
      prospectus contained therein, for each of the other Underwriters, have
      been declared effective by the Commission in such form, and no stop
      order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement has
      been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or
      threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in
      such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to
      Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the
      1933 Act being hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the
      various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits
      thereto and including the documents incorporated by reference in the
      prospectus contained in the registration statement at the time such
      part of the registration statement became effective, each as amended at
      the time such part of the registration statement became effective,
      being hereinafter called the "Registration Statement"; and the final
      prospectus relating to the Notes, in the form first filed pursuant to
      Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, being hereinafter called the
      "Prospectus"; and any
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     reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall
     be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by
     reference therein, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or
     Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or
     supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus shall be deemed
     to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such
     Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and
     incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus,
     as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the
     Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any
     annual report of the Corporation filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or
     15(d) of the 1934 Act after the effective date of the Registration
     Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement).

  (b) The Registration Statement conforms and the Prospectus will conform in
      all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules
      and regulations thereunder ("1933 Act Regulations"), and the
      Registration Statement does not and the Prospectus will not include any
      untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
      required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
      therein not misleading, except that the Corporation makes no warranty
      or representation to the Underwriters with respect to any statements or
      omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
      information furnished to the Corporation by any Underwriter
      specifically for use therein or any information set forth in the
      Prospectus under the caption "Description of the Series   Senior
      Notes--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company."

  (c) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time
      they were filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects
      with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of
      the Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read
      together with the other information in the Prospectus, do not contain
      an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
      required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
      therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
      not misleading, and any documents deemed to be incorporated by
      reference in the Prospectus will, when they are filed with the
      Commission, comply in all material respects with the requirements of
      the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations, and will not contain an
      untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
      required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
      therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made,
      not misleading, except that the Corporation makes no warranty or
      representation to the Underwriters with respect to any statements or
      omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
      information furnished to the Corporation by any Underwriter
      specifically for use therein or any information set forth in the
      Prospectus under the caption "Description of the Series   Senior
      Notes--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company."

  (d) The compliance by the Corporation with all of the provisions of this
      Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated
      will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the
      terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
      mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
      instrument to which the Corporation or any of its Principal
      Subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined) is a party

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     or by which any of them or their respective property is bound or to
     which any of their property or assets is subject, nor will such action
     result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Articles of
     Incorporation or By-Laws of the Corporation or any statute or any order,
     rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
     jurisdiction over the Corporation or its Principal Subsidiaries or any
     of their respective property; and no consent, approval, authorization,
     order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or
     governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the
     Corporation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
     for authorization by the North Carolina Utilities Commission and The
     Public Service Commission of South Carolina and the registration under
     the 1933 Act of the Notes and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
     registrations or qualifications as may be required under state
     securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and
     distribution of the Notes by the Underwriters.

  (e) Each of Duke Capital Corporation, PanEnergy Corp, Duke Energy Natural
      Gas Corporation and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation, each a
      Delaware corporation (and herein called a "Principal Subsidiary"), is a
      direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Notes. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Corporation agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Corporation, at a purchase price of  % of the principal
amount of the Notes, the respective principal amount of Notes set forth
opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto plus the respective
principal amount of additional Notes which each such Underwriter may become
obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 hereof.

Payment of the purchase price for the Notes to be purchased by the Underwriters
shall be made at the offices of Dewey Ballantine LLP, 1301 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, N.Y., or at such other place as shall be mutually agreed
upon by you and the Corporation, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on      ,
     (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 8) or such
other time not later than three full business days after such date as shall be
agreed upon by you and the Corporation (the "Closing Date"). Payment shall be
made to the Corporation by wire transfer in immediately available funds,
payable to the order of the Corporation against delivery of the Notes, in fully
registered form, to you or upon your order. The Notes shall be delivered in the
form of one or more global certificates in aggregate denomination equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes upon original issuance and registered
in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC").

4. Offering by the Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters
propose to offer the Notes for sale to the public as set forth in the
Prospectus.

5. Covenants of the Corporation. The Corporation covenants and agrees with the
several Underwriters that:

  (a) The Corporation will advise you promptly of any amendment (and
      effectiveness thereof) or supplementation of the Registration Statement
      or the Prospectus and of the institution by

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     the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the
     Registration Statement, and will use its best efforts to prevent the
     issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as soon as possible its
     lifting, if issued.

  (b) If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Notes is required to
      be delivered under the 1933 Act any event occurs as a result of which
      the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
      statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact
      necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
      circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is
      necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the 1933
      Act, the Corporation promptly will prepare and file with the Commission
      an amendment, supplement or an appropriate document pursuant to Section
      13 or 14 of the 1934 Act which will correct such statement or omission
      or which will effect such compliance.

  (c) The Corporation, during the period when a prospectus relating to the
      Notes is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file
      promptly all documents required to be filed with the Commission
      pursuant to Section 13 or 14 of the 1934 Act.

  (d) The Corporation will make generally available to its security holders,
      in each case as soon as practicable but not later than 60 days after
      the close of the period covered thereby, earnings statements (in form
      complying with the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act, which
      need not be certified by independent certified public accountants
      unless required by the 1933 Act) covering (i) a twelve-month period
      beginning not later than the first day of the Corporation's fiscal
      quarter next following the effective date of the Registration Statement
      and (ii) a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day
      of the Corporation's fiscal quarter next following the date of this
      Agreement.

  (e) The Corporation will furnish to you, without charge, copies of the
      Registration Statement (       of which will be signed and will include
      all exhibits other than those incorporated by reference), the
      Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in
      each case as soon as available and in such quantities as you reasonably
      request.

  (f) The Corporation will arrange or cooperate in arrangements for the
      qualification of the Notes for sale under the laws of such
      jurisdictions as you designate and will continue such qualifications in
      effect so long as required for the distribution; provided, however,
      that the Corporation shall not be required to qualify as a foreign
      corporation or to file any general consents to service of process under
      the laws of any state where it is not now so subject.

  (g) The Corporation will pay all expenses incident to the performance of
      its obligations under this Agreement including (i) the printing and
      filing of the Registration Statement and the printing of this Agreement
      and the Blue Sky Survey, (ii) the issuance and delivery of the Notes as
      specified herein, (iii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
      Underwriters in connection with the qualification of the Notes under
      the securities laws of any jurisdiction in accordance with the
      provisions of Section 5(f) and in connection with the preparation of
      the Blue Sky Survey, such fees not to exceed $5,000, (iv) the printing
      and

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     delivery to the Underwriters, in quantities as hereinabove referred to,
     of copies of the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, and
     of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (v) any
     fees charged by independent rating agencies for rating the Notes, (vi)
     any fees and expenses in connection with the listing of the Notes on the
     New York Stock Exchange, (vii) any filing fee required by the National
     Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (viii) the costs of any
     depository arrangements for the Notes with DTC or any successor
     depositary.

6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Notes will be subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Corporation
herein, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Corporation made
pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Corporation of its
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

  (a) Prior to the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
      of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings
      for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the
      Corporation or you, shall be threatened by the Commission.

  (b) Prior to the Closing Date, the rating assigned by Moody's Investors
      Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Ratings Services to (i) any debt
      securities or preferred stock of the Corporation or (ii) any trust
      preferred securities of Duke Energy Capital Trust I or Duke Energy
      Capital Trust II as of the date of this Agreement shall not have been
      lowered.

  (c) Since the respective most recent dates as of which information is given
      in the Prospectus and up to the Closing Date, there shall not have been
      any material adverse change in the condition of the Corporation,
      financial or otherwise, except as reflected in or contemplated by the
      Prospectus, and, since such dates and up to the Closing Date, there
      shall not have been any material transaction entered into by the
      Corporation other than transactions contemplated by the Prospectus and
      transactions in the ordinary course of business.

  (d) You shall have received an opinion of Ellen T. Ruff, Esq., Vice
      President and General Counsel, Corporate and Electric Operations, of
      the Corporation, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

    (i)  The Corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
         as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
         North Carolina, with power and authority (corporate and other) to
         own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
         Prospectus.

    (ii) Each of the Corporation and the Principal Subsidiaries is duly
         qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the
         ownership or leasing of its property or the conduct of its
         business requires such qualification, except where the failure to
         so qualify, considering all such cases in the aggregate, does not
         have a material adverse effect on the business, properties,
         financial position or results of operations of the Corporation and
         its subsidiaries taken as a whole.


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    (iii)   The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
            by the Corporation and, assuming the due authorization,
            execution and delivery thereof by The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
            Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument of
            the Corporation, enforceable against the Corporation in
            accordance with its terms, subject to the qualifications that
            the enforceability of the Corporation's obligations under the
            Indenture may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
            reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to
            or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general
            principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
            is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

    (iv)    The Notes have been duly authorized and executed by the
            Corporation and, when authenticated by The Chase Manhattan
            Bank, as Trustee, in the manner provided in the Indenture and
            delivered against payment therefor, will constitute valid and
            legally binding obligations of the Corporation enforceable
            against the Corporation in accordance with their terms, subject
            to the qualifications that the enforceability of the
            Corporation's obligations under the Notes may be limited by
            bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
            similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
            generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of
            whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
            equity or at law), and are entitled to the benefits afforded by
            the Indenture in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and
            the Notes.

    (v)     The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933
            Act, and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop
            order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
            Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose
            have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the
            1933 Act.

    (vi)    This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
            by the Corporation.

    (vii)   The North Carolina Utilities Commission and The Public Service
            Commission of South Carolina have issued appropriate orders
            with respect to the issuance and sale of the Notes in
            accordance with this Agreement, and, to the best of the
            knowledge of such counsel, such orders are still in effect; the
            issuance and sale of the Notes to the Underwriters are in
            conformity with the terms of such orders; and no other
            authorization, approval or consent of any other governmental
            body (other than in connection or compliance with the
            provisions of the securities or Blue Sky laws of any
            jurisdiction) is legally required for the issuance and sale of
            the Notes pursuant to this Agreement.

    (viii)  The performance by the Corporation of this Agreement and the
            Indenture will not contravene any of the provisions of the
            Restated Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the
            Corporation or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of
            which such counsel is aware of any court or governmental agency
            or body having jurisdiction over the Corporation or any of its
            Principal Subsidiaries or any of their respective property, nor
            will such action conflict with or result in a breach or

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            violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
            default under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
            agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such
            counsel to which the Corporation or any of its Principal
            Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or their
            respective property is bound or to which any of their property
            or assets is subject which affects in a material way the
            Corporation's ability to perform its obligations under this
            Agreement and the Indenture.

    (ix)    The descriptions in the Registration Statement and the
            Prospectus of legal or governmental proceedings are accurate
            and fairly present the information required to be shown, and
            such counsel does not know of any litigation or any legal or
            governmental proceeding instituted or threatened against the
            Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
            respective properties that would be required to be disclosed in
            the Prospectus and is not so disclosed.

  Such counsel shall also state that nothing has come to her attention that
  has caused her to believe that the Registration Statement as of the date of
  effectiveness under the 1933 Act and the Prospectus as of the date it was
  filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission, contained any
  untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
  required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
  not misleading, or that the Prospectus as of the date it was filed with, or
  transmitted for filing to, the Commission and at the Closing Date,
  contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
  omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
  therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
  misleading. Such counsel may also state that, except as otherwise expressly
  provided in such opinion, she does not assume any responsibility for the
  accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in or
  incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the
  Prospectus and does not express any opinion or belief as to the financial
  statements or other financial data contained in the Registration Statement
  and the Prospectus, the statement of the eligibility and qualification of
  the Trustee or as to the information set forth in the Prospectus under the
  caption "Description of the Series   Senior Notes--Book-Entry Only
  Issuance--The Depository Trust Company."

  In rendering the foregoing opinion, such counsel may state that she
  expresses no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than North
  Carolina and may rely on the opinion of Austin, Lewis & Rogers of Columbia,
  South Carolina as to matters of South Carolina law. Such counsel may also
  state that she has relied as to certain factual matters on information
  obtained from public officials, officers of the Corporation and other
  sources believed by her to be responsible.

  (e) You shall have received an opinion or opinions of Dewey Ballantine LLP,
      counsel to the Corporation, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the
      matters set forth in (i) and (iii) through (vii) of Section 6(d) and to
      the further effect that:

    (i)  The performance by the Corporation of this Agreement and the
         Indenture will not contravene any of the provisions of the
         Restated Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Corporation.

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    (ii)  No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
          qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body
          is required for the issue and sale of the Notes or the
          consummation by the Corporation of the transactions contemplated
          by this Agreement or the Indenture, except for authorization by
          the North Carolina Utilities Commission and The Public Service
          Commission of South Carolina and such as have been obtained under
          the 1933 Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and such
          consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or
          qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue
          Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
          Notes by the Underwriters.

    (iii) Each of the Principal Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and
          is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
          laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, with power and
          authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct
          its business as described in the Prospectus.

    (iv)  The Indenture is duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of
          1939.

    (v)   The Registration Statement as of the date of effectiveness under
          the 1933 Act and the Prospectus as of the date it was filed with,
          or transmitted for filing to, the Commission complied as to form
          in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act
          and the 1933 Act Regulations; and nothing has come to their
          attention that would lead them to believe that the Registration
          Statement as of the date of effectiveness under the 1933 Act (or
          if an amendment to such Registration Statement or an annual
          report on Form 10-K has been filed by the Corporation with the
          Commission subsequent to the effectiveness of the Registration
          Statement, then at the time of the most recent such filing)
          contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
          state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
          to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
          Prospectus as of the date it was filed with, or transmitted for
          filing to, the Commission and at the Closing Date contained or
          contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
          omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
          statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
          they were made, not misleading. Such opinion may state that such
          counsel do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
          completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
          Registration Statement and Prospectus except as otherwise
          expressly provided in such opinion and do not express any opinion
          or belief as to the financial statements or other financial data
          contained in or incorporated by reference into the Registration
          Statement and the Prospectus, the statement of the eligibility
          and qualification of the Trustee or as to the information set
          forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of the
          Series   Senior Notes--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository
          Trust Company."

    (vi)  The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions
          "Description of the Senior Notes" and "Description of the Series
          Senior Notes," insofar as they purport to summarize provisions of
          documents specifically referred to therein, fairly present the
          information called for with respect thereto by Form S-3.

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  In rendering the foregoing opinion or opinions, Dewey Ballantine LLP may
  state that such opinion or opinions are limited to the Federal laws of the
  United States, the laws of the State of New York and the General
  Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and that they are relying on the
  opinion of Ellen T. Ruff, Esq. as to matters of North Carolina law and on
  the opinion of Austin, Lewis & Rogers of Columbia, South Carolina as to
  matters of South Carolina law. In addition, such counsel may state that
  they have relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained from
  public officials, officers of the Corporation and other sources believed by
  them to be responsible and that the signatures on all documents examined by
  them are genuine, assumptions which such counsel have not independently
  verified.

  (f)  You shall have received an opinion of         , counsel for the
       Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation
       of the Corporation, the validity of the Notes, the Registration Statement
       and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and such other related
       matters as you may require, and the Corporation shall have furnished
       to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of
       enabling them to pass upon such matters. In giving their opinion,     may
       rely on the opinion of Ellen T. Ruff, Esq. as to matters of North
       Carolina law and on the opinion of Austin, Lewis & Rogers of Columbia,
       South Carolina as to matters of South Carolina law.

  (g) On or after the date hereof, there shall not have occurred any of the
      following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in
      securities generally or of the securities of the Corporation, Duke
      Energy Capital Trust I or Duke Energy Capital Trust II on the New York
      Stock Exchange; or (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
      activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York State
      authorities; or (iii) the outbreak or material escalation of
      hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the
      United States of a national emergency or war if the effect of any such
      event specified in this clause (g) in your judgment makes it
      impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
      delivery of the Notes being delivered at the Closing Date on the terms
      and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus. In such event there
      shall be no liability on the part of any party to any other party
      except for the expenses to be borne by the Corporation as provided in
      Section 5(g) hereof.

  (h) You shall have received a certificate of the Chairman of the Board, the
      President, any Vice President, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
      and any financial or accounting officer of the Corporation, dated the
      Closing Date, in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge
      after reasonable investigation, shall state that the representations
      and warranties of the Corporation in this Agreement are true and
      correct as of the Closing Date, that the Corporation has complied with
      all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed
      or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date, that the conditions
      specified in Section 6(b) and Section 6(c) have been satisfied, and
      that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
      Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
      instituted or are threatened by the Commission.

  (i) On the date of this Agreement, you shall have received a letter dated
      the date hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you, from the
      Corporation's independent public accountants, containing statements and
      information of the type ordinarily included in

                                       9
<PAGE>

      accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the
      financial statements and certain financial information contained in or
      incorporated by reference into the Prospectus.

  (j) At the Closing Date you shall have received from the Corporation's
      independent public accountants a letter, dated the Closing Date, to the
      effect that such accountants reaffirm the statements made in the letter
      furnished pursuant to paragraph (i) of this Section 6, except that the
      specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business
      days prior to the Closing Date.

The Corporation will furnish you with such conformed copies of such opinions,
certificates, letters and documents as you reasonably request.

7. Indemnification. (a) The Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, as follows:

    (i)   against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
          whatsoever arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
          statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
          Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged
          omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated
          therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
          misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
          untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary
          Prospectus, the prospectus constituting a part of the
          Registration Statement in the form in which it became effective
          or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the
          omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
          necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
          of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
          unless such statement or omission or such alleged statement or
          omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
          information furnished to the Corporation by any Underwriter
          through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or
          any amendment thereto) or such Preliminary Prospectus, such
          prospectus, or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
          thereto);

    (ii)  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
          whatsoever to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
          settlement of any litigation, commenced or threatened, or of any
          claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission
          or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such
          settlement is effected with the written consent of the
          Corporation; and

    (iii) against any and all expense whatsoever reasonably incurred in
          investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation,
          commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any
          such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
          statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not
          paid under (i) or (ii) above.

In no case shall the Corporation be liable under this indemnity agreement with
respect to any claim made against any Underwriter or any such controlling
person unless the Corporation shall be notified in writing of the nature of
the claim within a reasonable time after the assertion thereof, but failure so
to notify the Corporation shall not relieve it from any liability which it may
have otherwise than on

                                      10
<PAGE>

account of this indemnity agreement. The Corporation shall be entitled to
participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, within a
reasonable time after receipt of such notice, to assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such claim, but if it so elects to assume the defense,
such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and approved by the
Underwriter or Underwriters or controlling person or persons, or defendant or
defendants in any suit so brought, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In any such suit, any Underwriter or any such controlling person
shall have the right to employ its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such controlling
person unless (i) the Corporation and such Underwriter shall have mutually
agreed to the employment of such counsel, or (ii) the named parties to any such
action (including any impleaded parties) include both such Underwriter or such
controlling person and the Corporation and such Underwriter or such controlling
person shall have been advised by such counsel that a conflict of interest
between the Corporation and such Underwriter or such controlling person may
arise and for this reason it is not desirable for the same counsel to represent
both the indemnifying party and also the indemnified party (it being
understood, however, that the Corporation shall not, in connection with any one
such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances,
be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
of attorneys for all such Underwriters and all such controlling persons, which
firm shall be designated in writing by you). The Corporation agrees to notify
you within a reasonable time of the assertion of any claim against it, any of
its officers or directors or any person who controls the Corporation within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, in connection with the sale of the
Notes.

  (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees that it will indemnify and hold
      harmless the Corporation, its directors and each of the officers of the
      Corporation who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if
      any, who controls the Corporation within the meaning of Section 15 of
      the 1933 Act to the same extent as the indemnity contained in
      subsection (a) of this Section, but only with respect to statements or
      omissions made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto)
      or any Preliminary Prospectus, such prospectus or the Prospectus (or
      any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity
      with written information furnished to the Corporation by such
      Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement
      (or any amendment thereto), such Preliminary Prospectus, such
      prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
      In case any action shall be brought against the Corporation or any
      person so indemnified based on the Registration Statement (or any
      amendment thereto) or such Preliminary Prospectus, such prospectus or
      the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and in respect
      of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such
      Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Corporation,
      and the Corporation and each person so indemnified shall have the
      rights and duties given to the Underwriters, by the provisions of
      subsection (a) of this Section.

8. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. (a) If any Underwriter shall
default in its obligation to purchase the Notes which it has agreed to purchase
hereunder on the Closing Date, you may in your discretion arrange for you or
another party or other parties to purchase such Notes on the terms contained
herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do

                                       11
<PAGE>

not arrange for the purchase of such Notes, then the Corporation shall be
entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure
another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Notes on
such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you
notify the Corporation that you have so arranged for the purchase of such
Notes, or the Corporation notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase
of such Notes, you or the Corporation shall have the right to postpone such
Closing Date for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect
whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Corporation
agrees to file promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus which may be required. The term "Underwriter" as used in this
Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like
effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with
respect to such Notes.

  (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
      Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you or the
      Corporation as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate amount
      of such Notes which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of
      the aggregate amount of all the Notes to be purchased at such Closing
      Date, then the Corporation shall have the right to require each non-
      defaulting Underwriter to purchase the amount of Notes which such
      Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Closing Date and, in
      addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its
      pro rata share (based on the amount of Notes which such Underwriter
      agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Notes of such defaulting
      Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
      made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from
      liability for its default.

  (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
      Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you or the
      Corporation as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate amount
      of such Notes which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the
      aggregate amount of all the Notes to be purchased at such Closing Date,
      or if the Corporation shall not exercise the right described in
      subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase
      Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement
      shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-
      defaulting Underwriter or the Corporation, except for the expenses to
      be borne by the Corporation as provided in Section 5(g) hereof and the
      indemnity agreement in Section 7 hereof; but nothing herein shall
      relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

9. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of
the Corporation or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or
made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made
by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Corporation, or any of its officers
or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and
payment for the Notes.

10. Reliance on Your Acts. In all dealings hereunder,        shall act on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the Corporation shall be entitled to
act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any
Underwriter made or given by          .

                                       12
<PAGE>

11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to
the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telecopied and confirmed to
          as your representative in care of           at            ,
,        , telephone number (   )    -    , or, if sent to the Corporation,
will be mailed, delivered or telecopied and confirmed to it at 526 South Church
Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28202, telephone number (704) 382-5963, attention of
David L. Hauser, Senior Vice President and Treasurer; provided, however, that
any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 hereof shall be delivered or
sent by mail or telecopy to such Underwriter at its address or telecopy number
set forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire or telex constituting such
Questionnaire, which address or telecopy number will be supplied to the
Corporation by             . Any such communications shall take effect upon
receipt thereof.

12. Business Day. As used herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day
when the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

13. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Underwriters and the Corporation and their respective successors.
Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be
construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties
hereto and their respective successors and the controlling persons, officers
and directors referred to in Section 7 and their respective successors, heirs
and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained; this
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and
being for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and said controlling persons, officers and directors and
their respective successors, heirs and legal representatives, and for the
benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Notes from any
Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor or assign by reason merely of
such purchase.

14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

15. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

                                       13
<PAGE>

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, kindly sign and
return to us two counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance by            on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance will become
a binding agreement between the Corporation, on the one hand, and each of the
Underwriters, on the other hand, in accordance with its terms. It is understood
that acceptance of this letter by           on behalf of each of the
Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement
Among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Corporation for
examination, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the
signers thereof.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          Duke Energy Corporation

                                          By:__________________________________

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

By:_______________________________________


                                       14
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Principal Amount
                                                                 of Notes to be
Underwriter                                                        Purchased
-----------                                                     ----------------
<S>                                                             <C>
                                                                     $

                                                                     -----
  Total........................................................      $
                                                                     =====
</TABLE>


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