Fair Competition Duke Energy's Code of Business Ethics
Duke Energy succeeds in the marketplace by offering competitively priced, quality products and services. As a company, we support full and fair competition by complying with antitrust laws prohibiting activities that reduce competition and restrict trade.
Our Responsibilities
All Duke Energy employees must deal fairly with the company's customers, suppliers and competitors. Employees are expected to act with integrity by maintaining Duke Energy's independent judgment in the pricing, marketing, purchasing and selling of all products and services.
Duke Energy employees must:
- Understand how fair competition laws apply to us and our business, and learn how to avoid engaging in potentially unlawful behavior.
- Leave any meeting or informal gathering immediately and report any discussions with competitors that could be considered anti-competitive.
Duke Energy employees must not:
- Improperly attempt to prevent an entity from competing with Duke Energy or from entering the markets in which Duke Energy participates.
- Suggest to suppliers that our purchasing decisions depend on their use of Duke Energy's goods or services, or that failing to do business with a Duke Energy subsidiary or affiliate could jeopardize business with another Duke Energy entity.
- Make inaccurate or misleading statements about competitors, suppliers, customers or their offerings.
Q & A
Q: What types of behavior could be considered anti-competitive and a violation of antitrust laws?
A: The following behavior could be considered anti-competitive and a violation of antitrust laws:
- Discussions or agreements with a competitor regarding pricing, territories, market share or intent to bid (or not bid) for particular business.
- Providing inconsistent information about a request for quotation/proposal to competing bidders.
- Entering into an exclusive dealing arrangement or understanding in which you agree to work only with certain suppliers or distributors in a particular market where Duke Energy has market power.
- Taking advantage of market power to eliminate or threaten a competitor or potential competitor in that or another market.
- Suggesting that a product or commodity must be resold at or within a particular price or range of prices.
- Participating in actions by any trade association or other industry group regarding membership restrictions, sharing information (including benchmarking) or desired governmental actions. Participating in such actions could be anti-competitive and should be performed under the proper guidelines.
