NRG Energy Inc (NRG), Duke Energy Corp (DUK): How It Aims to Keep Growing

Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK) dominates large-scale energy production, but one threat could come from small-scale local generation. SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY) and other players in the solar industry have realized that financing residential and small-scale commercial solar power installations could become a key to increased adoption of solar technology, and even Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK) CEO Jim Rogers has noted that the move could make utility giants less important going forward. Moreover, with wholesale power provider NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG) looking to bypass its utility customers and go directly to consumers with solar installations and natural gas generators, big changes in the industry could be coming and could put hundreds of billions of dollars of traditional utility investment at risk.

Yet Duke doesn’t intend to get left behind. It bought two solar projects in California earlier this month, adding to its portfolio of renewable energy production. With the goal of having 6,000 megawatts of wins, solar, and biomass power capacity by the end of the decade, Duke is aiming to be a leader in sustainable energy.

In Duke’s quarterly report, watch for signs of how the integration of Progress Energy is going. With some past bumps in the process, Duke just rolled out a new logo this past week, and how customers in affected areas respond should tell whether the company gets a welcome reception in its new coverage areas.

The article How Duke Energy Aims to Keep Growing originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Dan Caplinger.

Motley Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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