Item 9A. Controls and Procedures - 2003 Annual Report - Duke Energy
Duke Energy

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Duke Energy's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of Duke Energy's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) (Disclosure Controls Evaluation) and concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that all material information required to be filed in this annual report has been made known to them in a timely fashion. The required information was effectively recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period necessary to prepare this annual report. Duke Energy's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in Duke Energy's reports under the Exchange Act are accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

In performing its audit of Duke Energy's Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2003, Duke Energy's independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte), noted certain matters involving Duke Energy's internal controls that it considered to be a reportable condition under the standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A reportable condition involves matters relating to significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that, in Deloitte's judgment, could adversely affect Duke Energy's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data consistent with the assertions of management on the financial statements. The reportable condition noted by Deloitte related to the sufficiency of supporting documentation and transaction analysis, the application of generally accepted accounting principles, and the treatment of intercompany transactions during the consolidation process. The reportable condition was not considered by Deloitte to be a material weakness under the applicable auditing standards and had no material affect on Duke Energy's financial statements. Management has discussed the reportable condition with the Duke Energy Audit Committee and is implementing procedures and controls to address the identified deficiencies and enhance the reliability of Duke Energy's internal control procedures.

Management has concluded that the Disclosure Controls Evaluation identified no changes in Duke Energy's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2003 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Duke Energy's internal control over financial reporting