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