Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-146483-03

 

 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated November 12, 2008

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated October 3, 2007)

 

 

$           First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds,    % Series    due 2013

$           First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds,    % Series    due 2018

 

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC is offering $      aggregate principal amount of First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds in two series. We are offering $      First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds,     % Series     due     2013 (“2013 Mortgage Bonds”) and $     First and Mortgage Bonds,     % Series      due 2018 (the “2018 Mortgage Bonds,” and together with the 2013 Mortgage Bonds, the “Mortgage Bonds”). We will pay interest on the 2013 Mortgage Bonds at a rate of     % per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on           and           of each year, beginning on          , 2009. The 2013 Mortgage Bonds will mature as to principal on          , 2013. We will pay interest on the 2018 Mortgage Bonds at a rate of          % per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on           and           of each year, beginning on          , 2009. The 2018 Mortgage Bonds will mature as to principal on          , 2018. The Mortgage Bonds are secured by a continuing lien on certain of our properties and franchises.

We may redeem either series of the Mortgage Bonds at our option at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, as described in this prospectus supplement under the caption “Description of the Mortgage Bonds — Optional Redemption.” The Mortgage Bonds will also be redeemable for the Replacement Fund (as defined in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds — Replacement Fund”) or upon application of moneys arising from a taking of any of the mortgaged property by eminent domain or similar action at any time or from time to time at the special redemption price of 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. We have agreed not to apply any cash deposited with the trustee pursuant to the Replacement Fund to the redemption of the Mortgage Bonds so long as any of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds presently outstanding remain outstanding. See “Description of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds — Replacement Fund” in the accompanying prospectus.

The Mortgage Bonds will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system. Currently, there is no public market for the Mortgage Bonds. Please read the information provided under the caption “Description of the Mortgage Bonds” in this prospectus supplement and “Description of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds” in the accompanying prospectus for a more detailed description of the Mortgage Bonds.

Investing in the Mortgage Bonds involves risks. See the sections captioned “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008, each of which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

We expect the Mortgage Bonds to be ready for delivery only in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg and Euroclear Bank N.V./S.A., on or about November   , 2008.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Co-Managers

 

Junior Co-Managers

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is November   , 2008.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information provided by or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Prospectus

 

 

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering.

 

If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

 

Unless we have indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to “Duke Energy Carolinas,” “we,” “us” and “our” or similar terms are to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and its subsidiaries.

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

Issuer		Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
Securities Offered		We are offering $           aggregate principal amount of          % 2013 Mortgage Bonds and offering $          aggregate principal amount of          % 2018 Mortgage Bonds.
Maturity		The 2013 Mortgage Bonds will mature on          , 2013.
		The 2018 Mortgage Bonds will mature on          , 2018.
Interest Rate		% per year for the 2013 Mortgage Bonds.
		% per year for the 2018 Mortgage Bonds.
Interest Payment Dates		Interest on the Mortgage Bonds shall be payable semi-annually in arrears on           and           of each year, beginning on          , 2009.
Ranking		The Mortgage Bonds are two series of First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC. All of the outstanding First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds are equally and ratably secured without preference, priority or distinction.
Collateral		The Mortgage Bonds are secured by a lien that covers substantially all of our properties, real, personal and mixed, and our franchises, including properties acquired after the date of the mortgage as supplemented governing the Mortgage Bonds.
Certain Covenants		The Mortgage, which is described in this prospectus supplement under the caption “Description of the Mortgage Bonds,” contains

		certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to create liens on our assets. See “Description of the Mortgage Bonds” in this prospectus supplement and “Description of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds” in the accompanying prospectus.
Optional Redemption		The Mortgage Bonds of each series are redeemable at the option of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Mortgage Bonds being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such Mortgage Bonds being redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the Treasury Rate plus     basis points in the case of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds, and at the Treasury Rate plus     basis points in the case of the 2018 Mortgage Bonds, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to such redemption date. See “Description of the Mortgage Bonds — Optional Redemption”.
		The Mortgage Bonds will also be redeemable for the Replacement Fund or upon application of moneys arising from a taking of any of the underlying mortgaged property by eminent domain or similar action at any time or from time to time at the special redemption price of 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. We have agreed not to apply any cash deposited with the trustee pursuant to the Replacement Fund to the redemption of the Mortgage Bonds so long as any of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds presently outstanding remain outstanding. See “Description of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds — Replacement Fund” in the accompanying prospectus.
No Sinking Fund		There is no sinking fund for the Mortgage Bonds.
Use of Proceeds		The aggregate net proceeds from the sale of the Mortgage Bonds, after deducting the respective underwriting discounts and related offering expenses and giving effect to the underwriters’ payment to us, will be approximately $      million. The net proceeds from the sale of the Mortgage Bonds will be used (i) to repay approximately $260 million outstanding under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which bears interest at a rate equal to the Prime Rate, currently 4%, and is payable on September 30, 2009; (ii) to repay $200 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.375% Senior Notes due January 1, 2009, and (iii) to replenish a portion of the cash we used to repay $300 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.20% Senior Notes at their maturity on October 1, 2008.
		We expect that the sales of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds and the 2018 Mortgage Bonds will take place concurrently. However, the sales of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds and the 2018 Mortgage Bonds are not conditioned upon each other, and we may consummate the sale of

		one series and not the other, or consummate the sales at different times.
Book-Entry		The Mortgage Bonds will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of and deposited with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Mortgage Bonds will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the global securities through either DTC in the United States or Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear in Europe if they are participants in those systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in those systems. This means that you will not receive a certificate for your Mortgage Bonds and Mortgage Bonds will not be registered in your name, except under certain limited circumstances described under the caption “Book-Entry System.”
Trustee		The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors under the headings “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008, each of which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment decision.

 

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain or incorporate by reference statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can typically identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “continue,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “will,” “potential,” “forecast,” “target,” and other similar expressions. Those statements represent our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from the results predicted. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to:

 

 

 

 

In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

The ratios of earnings to fixed charges have been calculated using the Securities and Exchange Commission guidelines.

 

 

 

 

The aggregate net proceeds from the sale of the Mortgage Bonds, after deducting the respective underwriting discounts and related offering expenses and giving effect to the underwriters’ payment to us, will be approximately $      million. The net proceeds from the sale of the Mortgage Bonds will be used (i) to repay approximately $260 million outstanding under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which bears interest at a rate equal to the Prime Rate, currently 4%, and is payable on September 30, 2009; (ii) to repay $200 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.375% Senior Notes due January 1, 2009, and (iii) to replenish a portion of the cash we used to repay $300 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.20% Senior Notes at their maturity on October 1, 2008.

 

We expect that the sales of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds and the 2018 Mortgage Bonds will take place concurrently. However, the sales of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds and the 2018 Mortgage Bonds are not conditioned upon each other, and we may consummate the sale of one series and not the other, or consummate the sales at different times.

 

We will issue the Mortgage Bonds as two series of First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds under our First and Refunding Mortgage, dated as of December 1, 1927, to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, as supplemented and amended from time to time, including by the Eighty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture (the Eighty-Eighth “Supplemental Indenture”), to be dated as of November   , 2008. The First and Refunding Mortgage is sometimes called the “Mortgage” and the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds,     % Series   due 2013, together with the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds,          % Series          due 2018, are sometimes called the “Mortgage Bonds” in this prospectus supplement. The term “Bonds” refers to all mortgage bonds from time to time issued under the Mortgage, including the Mortgage Bonds. The trustee under the Mortgage is sometimes called the “Bond Trustee” in this prospectus supplement. The following description of the Mortgage Bonds is only a summary and is not intended to be comprehensive. For additional information, you should refer to the accompanying prospectus and to the Mortgage, which is an exhibit to the registration statement, of which the accompanying prospectus is a part.

 

General

 

The Mortgage Bonds will be issued as two new series of Bonds under the Mortgage. The Mortgage Bonds being offered hereby will be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $          . The amount of Bonds that we may issue under the Mortgage is unlimited subject to the provisions described in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds — Issuance of Additional Bonds.” We may, without the consent of the holders of a series of Bonds, reopen such series of Bonds (including the Mortgage Bonds) and issue additional Bonds of such series under the Mortgage in addition to the Bonds of such series originally authorized.

 

We will issue the Mortgage Bonds only in fully registered form without coupons and there will be no service charge for any transfers and exchanges of the Mortgage Bonds. We may, however, require payment to cover any stamp tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange. Transfers and exchanges of the Mortgage Bonds may be made at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 or at any other office maintained by us for such purpose.

 

The Mortgage Bonds will be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Interest

 

The 2013 Mortgage Bonds and the 2018 Mortgage Bonds will mature on          , 2013 and          , 2018, respectively. Interest on the 2013 Mortgage Bonds will accrue at the rate of     % per annum from November   , 2008 or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest on the 2013 Mortgage Bonds has been paid or provided for. Interest on the 2018 Mortgage Bonds will accrue at the rate of          % per annum from November      , 2008 or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest on the 2018 Mortgage Bonds has been paid or provided for. We will make each interest payment on the Mortgage Bonds semi-annually in arrears on           and           of each year, commencing          , 2009, to each holder of record at the close of business on           and          (whether or not a business day) preceding the applicable interest payment date until the relevant principal amount has been paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Mortgage Bonds will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

Optional Redemption

 

We will have the right to redeem the Mortgage Bonds, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Mortgage Bonds being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such Mortgage Bonds (exclusive of interest accrued to the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the

Treasury Rate plus     basis points in the case of the 2013 Mortgage bonds, and at the Treasury Rate plus     basis points, in the case of the 2018 Mortgage Bonds, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to such redemption date.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by the Quotation Agent as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Mortgage Bonds to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Mortgage Bonds.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

“Quotation Agent” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, plus two other financial institutions appointed by us at the time of any redemption or their respective affiliates or successors which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates or successors shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated maturity (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

 

The Mortgage Bonds will also be redeemable for the Replacement Fund or upon application of moneys arising from a taking of any of the underlying mortgaged property by eminent domain or similar action at any time or from time to time at the special redemption price of 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the redemption date. We have agreed not to apply any cash deposited with the Bond Trustee pursuant to the Replacement Fund to the redemption of the Mortgage Bonds so long as any of the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds presently outstanding remain outstanding.

 

Redemption Procedures

 

We will provide not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each registered holder of the Mortgage Bonds to be redeemed. If the redemption notice is given and funds deposited as required, then interest will cease to accrue on and after the redemption date on the Mortgage Bonds or portions of such Mortgage Bonds called for redemption. In the event that any redemption date is not a business day, we will pay the redemption price on the next business day without any interest or other payment due to the delay.

 

Release Provisions

 

The Mortgage permits us to dispose of certain property and to take other actions without the Bond Trustee releasing that property. The Mortgage also permits the release of mortgaged property if we deposit cash or other consideration equal to the value of the mortgaged property to be released. In certain events and within certain limitations, the Bond Trustee is required to pay out cash that the Bond Trustee receives — other than for the Replacement Fund or as the basis for issuing Bonds — upon Duke Energy Carolinas’ application.

We may withdraw cash that we deposited with the Bond Trustee as the basis for issuing Bonds in an amount equal to the principal amount of any Bonds that we are entitled to have authenticated and delivered on the basis of additional property (electric), on the basis of Bonds previously authenticated and delivered or on the basis of refundable prior lien bonds.

 

Security

 

The Mortgage creates a continuing lien to secure the payment of principal and interest on the Bonds. All the Bonds are equally and ratably secured without preference, priority or distinction. With some exceptions, the lien of the Mortgage covers substantially all of our properties, real, personal and mixed, and our franchises, including properties acquired after the date of the Mortgage. Those exceptions include cash, accounts receivable, inventories of materials and supplies, merchandise held for sale, securities that we hold, after-acquired property not useful in our electric business, after-acquired franchises and after-acquired non-electric properties.

 

We have not made any appraisal of the value of the properties subject to the lien of the Mortgage. The value of the properties in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. In the event of liquidation, if the proceeds were not sufficient to repay amounts under all of the Bonds then outstanding, then holders of the Bonds, to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral, would only have an unsecured claim against our remaining assets. As of September 30, 2008, we had total senior secured indebtedness of approximately $2.9 billion and total senior unsecured indebtedness of approximately $4.0 billion.

 

The lien of the Mortgage is subject to certain permitted liens and to liens that exist upon properties that we acquired after we entered into the Mortgage to the extent of the amounts of prior lien bonds secured by those properties (not, however, exceeding 75% of the cost or value of those properties) and additions to those properties. “Prior lien bonds” are bonds or other indebtedness that are secured at the time of acquisition by a lien upon property that we acquire after the date of the Mortgage that becomes subject to the lien of the Mortgage.

 

Amendments of the Mortgage

 

Subject to some exceptions, we may amend the Mortgage with the consent of the holders of 662/3% in principal amount of the Bonds and we may amend the Mortgage for the benefit of the holders of any series of Mortgage Bonds offered hereby without the consent of the holders of such Mortgage Bonds. No amendment, however, which requires holder consent as aforesaid, may affect the rights under the Mortgage of the holders of less than all of the series of Bonds outstanding unless the holders of 662/3% in principal amount of the Bonds of each series affected consent to the amendment. The covenants included in the Eighty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture for the Mortgage Bonds offered hereby are solely for the benefit of the holders of such Mortgage Bonds offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement.

 

Events of Default

 

The Bond Trustee may, and at the written request of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Bonds will, declare the principal of all outstanding Bonds due when any event of default under the Mortgage occurs. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Bonds may, however, waive the default and rescind the declaration if we cure the default. We provide a statement from an officer each year to the Bond Trustee stating whether we have complied with the covenants of the Mortgage.

 

Concerning the Bond Trustee

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., is the Bond Trustee. Duke Energy Carolinas and some of its affiliates have banking relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon, an affiliate of the Bond Trustee. The Bank of New York Mellon or its affiliate also serves as trustee or agent under other indentures and agreements pursuant to which securities of Duke Energy Carolinas and of some of its affiliates are outstanding.

The Bond Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers at the request of any of the holders of the Bonds unless the holders thereof have offered to the Bond Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the cost, expenses and liabilities it might incur as a result. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Bond Trustee, or the exercise of any trust or power of the Bond Trustee. The Bond Trustee will not be liable for any action that it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with any such direction.

 

The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Mortgage Bonds, and does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations. This discussion only applies to Mortgage Bonds that are held as capital assets, within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and that are purchased in the initial offering at the initial offering price, by Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below). This summary is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and regulations of the Treasury Department, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus supplement may affect the tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to holders in light of their particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as certain financial institutions; tax-exempt organizations; insurance companies; traders or dealers in securities or commodities; persons holding Mortgage Bonds as part of a hedge or other integrated transaction; or certain former citizens or residents of the United States. Persons considering the purchase of Mortgage Bonds are urged to consult their tax advisors with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction. Furthermore, this discussion does not describe the effect of U.S. federal estate and gift tax laws or the effect of any applicable foreign, state or local laws.

 

We have not and will not seek any rulings or opinions from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or counsel with respect to the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a different position concerning the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of the Mortgage Bonds or that any such position would not be sustained.

 

This summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations for non-U.S. Holders is for general information only and is not tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the U.S. federal income tax considerations discussed below in light of their particular situations as well as the application of any state, local, foreign or other tax laws, including gift and estate tax laws.

 

For purposes of this summary, a “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Mortgage Bond that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is not (i) an individual that is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is created or organized under the laws of the United States, any states thereof or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation; (iv) a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary control over its administration and one or more United States persons (as defined in the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust, or (B) the trust has made an election under the applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

If a partnership, or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds Mortgage Bonds, the tax treatment of a partner in such a partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in a partnership holding Mortgage Bonds should consult their tax advisor as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them.

Interest

 

A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on payments of interest on the Mortgage Bonds provided that such holder (A) does not directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our or Duke Energy Corporation’s stock entitled to vote, (B) is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us or Duke Energy Corporation directly or constructively through stock ownership, and (C) satisfies certain certification requirements. Such certification requirements will be met if (x) the Non-U.S. Holder provides its name and address, and certifies on an IRS Form W-8BEN (or a substantially similar form), under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States person or (y) a securities clearing organization or certain other financial institutions holding the Mortgage Bonds on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder certifies on IRS Form W-8IMY, under penalties of perjury, that such certification has been received by it and furnishes us or our paying agent with a copy thereof. In addition, we or our paying agent must not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner of the Mortgage Bonds is a United States person.

 

If interest on the Mortgage Bonds is not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, but such Non-U.S. Holder does not satisfy the other requirements outlined in the preceding sentence, interest on the Mortgage Bonds generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate (or lower applicable treaty rate).

 

If interest on the Mortgage Bonds is effectively connected with the conduct by a Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, then the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the rate applicable to United States persons generally (and, with respect to corporate holders, may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax or a lower applicable treaty rate). If interest is subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in accordance with these rules, such interest payments will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax so long as the Non-U.S. Holder provides us or our paying agent with the appropriate documentation (generally an IRS Form W-8ECI).

 

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of the Mortgage Bonds

 

A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to gain, if any, recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of the Mortgage Bonds. A Non-U.S. Holder will also generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to such gain, unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, or (ii) in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a nonresident alien individual, such holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year and certain other conditions are satisfied. In the case described in (i) above, gain or loss recognized on the disposition of such Mortgage Bonds generally will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation in the same manner as if such gain or loss were recognized by a United States person, and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate). In the case described in (ii) above, the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to a 30% tax on any capital gain recognized on the disposition of the Mortgage Bonds (after being offset by certain U.S. source capital losses).

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Information returns will be filed annually with the IRS in connection with payments we make on the Mortgage Bonds. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific tax treaty or other agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides. Unless the Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person, information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with the proceeds from a sale or other disposition and the Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 28%) on payments on the Mortgage Bonds or on the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the Mortgage Bonds. The certification procedures required to claim the exemption from withholding tax on interest described

above will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding tax as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

We have obtained the information in this section concerning The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and its book-entry system and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

 

Each series of Mortgage Bonds initially will be represented by one or more fully registered global securities. Each global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC or any successor thereto and registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee.

 

Investors may elect to hold interests in each global Mortgage Bond through either DTC in the United States or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”) or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (the “Euroclear System”), in Europe if they are participants of such systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream, Luxembourg’s and the Euroclear System’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Citibank N.A. will act as depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as depositary for the Euroclear System (in such capacities, the “U.S. Depositaries”).

 

You may hold your interests in a global security in the United States through DTC, either as a participant in such system or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such system. So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the global securities representing the Mortgage Bonds, DTC or such nominee will be considered the sole owner and holder of the Mortgage Bonds for all purposes of the Mortgage Bonds and the Mortgage. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the Mortgage Bonds will not be entitled to have the Mortgage Bonds registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Mortgage Bonds in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the Mortgage Bonds under the Mortgage, including for purposes of receiving any reports that we or the Bond Trustee deliver pursuant to the Mortgage. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a Mortgage Bond must rely on the procedures of DTC or its nominee and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of Mortgage Bonds.

 

Unless and until we issue the Mortgage Bonds in fully certificated form under the limited circumstances described below under the heading “— Certificated Mortgage Bonds”:

 

 

The Depository Trust Company

 

DTC will act as securities depositary for the Mortgage Bonds. The Mortgage Bonds will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. DTC is:

 

 

 

DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in direct participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.

 

Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC in turn is owned by a number of direct participants of DTC and members of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation (which are also subsidiaries of DTCC), as well as by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to indirect participants such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com.

 

If you are not a direct participant or an indirect participant and you wish to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or other interests in the Mortgage Bonds, you must do so through a direct participant or an indirect participant. DTC agrees with and represents to DTC participants that it will administer its book-entry system in accordance with its rules and by-laws and requirements of law. The SEC has on file a set of the rules applicable to DTC and its direct participants.

 

Purchases of the Mortgage Bonds under DTC’s system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the Mortgage Bonds on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each beneficial owner is in turn to be recorded on the records of direct participants and indirect participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which such beneficial owners entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Mortgage Bonds are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive physical delivery of certificates representing their ownership interests in the Mortgage Bonds, except as provided below in “— Certificated Mortgage Bonds.”

 

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Mortgage Bonds deposited with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of Mortgage Bonds with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. has no effect on beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the Mortgage Bonds. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such Mortgage Bonds are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

 

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

 

Book-Entry Format

 

Under the book-entry format, the Bond Trustee will pay interest and principal payments to Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC will forward the payment to the direct participants, who will then forward the

payment to the indirect participants or to the beneficial owners. You may experience some delay in receiving your payments under this system.

 

DTC is required to make book-entry transfers on behalf of its direct participants and is required to receive and transmit payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Mortgage Bonds. Any direct participant or indirect participant with which you have an account is similarly required to make book-entry transfers and to receive and transmit payments with respect to Mortgage Bonds on your behalf. We and the Bond Trustee have no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Mortgage Bonds or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

The Bond Trustee will not recognize you as a holder of any Mortgage Bonds under the Mortgage and you can only exercise the rights of a holder indirectly through DTC and its direct participants. DTC has advised us that it will only take action regarding a Mortgage Bond if one or more of the direct participants to whom the Mortgage Bond is credited direct DTC to take such action. DTC can only act on behalf of its direct participants. Your ability to pledge Mortgage Bonds to indirect participants, and to take other actions, may be limited because you will not possess a physical certificate that represents your Mortgage Bonds.

 

Certificated Mortgage Bonds

 

Unless and until they are exchanged, in whole or in part, for Mortgage Bonds in definitive form in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage Bonds, the Mortgage Bonds may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC; as a whole by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC; or as a whole by DTC or nominee of DTC to a successor of DTC or a nominee of such successor.

 

We will issue Mortgage Bonds to you or your nominees, in fully certificated registered form, rather than to DTC or its nominees, only if:

 

 

If any of the above events occurs, DTC is required to notify all direct participants that Mortgage Bonds in fully certificated registered form are available through DTC. DTC will then surrender each global security representing the Mortgage Bonds along with instructions for re-registration. The Bond Trustee will re-issue the Mortgage Bonds in fully certificated registered form and will recognize the registered holders of the certificated Mortgage Bonds as holders under the Mortgage.

 

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

 

Initial settlement for the Mortgage Bonds will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream participants and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System, as applicable.

 

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream participants or Euroclear participants on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules

and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.

 

Because of time-zone differences, credits of Mortgage Bonds received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such Mortgage Bonds settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participant or Clearstream participant on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System as a result of sales of the Mortgage Bonds by or through a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

 

Although DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of Mortgage Bonds among participants of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued or changed at any time.

 

We have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the Mortgage Bonds with the underwriters listed below. Subject to certain conditions, each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase the principal amounts of Mortgage Bonds indicated in the following table:

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the Mortgage Bonds are subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of legal opinions relating to certain matters. The underwriters must purchase all the 2013 Mortgage Bonds or the 2018 Mortgage Bonds, respectively, if they purchase any of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds or the 2018 Mortgage Bonds. However, the sales of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds and the 2018 Mortgage Bonds are not conditioned upon each other, and we may consummate the sale of one series and not the other, or consummate the sales at different times.

 

Commissions and Discounts

 

The Mortgage Bonds sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial prices to public set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement and to certain dealers at these prices less a concession not in excess of (i)      % of the aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds and (ii)      % of the aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Mortgage Bonds. The underwriters may allow, and those dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of (i)      % of the aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Mortgage Bonds and (ii)      % of the aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Mortgage Bonds to certain other dealers. If all the Mortgage Bonds are not sold at the initial prices to public, the underwriters may change the offering prices and the other selling terms.

 

The expenses of the offerings, not including the underwriting discounts, are estimated to be approximately $          . The underwriters have agreed to make a payment to us in an amount equal to $          , including in respect of expenses incurred by us in connection with the offerings. We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of any of these liabilities.

 

New Issues of Mortgage Bonds

 

The Mortgage Bonds are new issues of securities with no established trading market. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in each series of Mortgage Bonds, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market-making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of any trading markets for the Mortgage Bonds.

 

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

 

In connection with the offerings, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the prices of the Mortgage Bonds. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the

underwriters of a greater aggregate principal amount of Mortgage Bonds than they are required to purchase in the offerings. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Mortgage Bonds while the offerings are in process.

 

These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market prices of the Mortgage Bonds. As a result, the prices of the Mortgage Bonds may be higher than the prices that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

Other Relationships

 

In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, some of the underwriters and/or their affiliates have in the past and may in the future provide us and our subsidiaries and affiliates with financial advisory and other services for which they have and in the future will receive customary fees. In particular, certain of the underwriters and/or certain of their respective affiliates are lenders under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and will receive a pro rata portion of the net proceeds from the offerings used to repay amounts outstanding under such credit agreement.

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc is not a U.S. registered broker-dealer and, therefore, to the extent that it intends to effect any sales of the Mortgage Bonds in the United States, it will do so through one or more U.S. registered broker-dealers as permitted by applicable regulations.

 

UK Selling Restrictions

 

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

 

EEA Selling Restrictions

 

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) it has not made and will not make an offer of Mortgage Bonds which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

 

 

provided that no such offer of Mortgage Bonds shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of Mortgage Bonds to the public” in relation to any Mortgage Bonds in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Mortgage Bonds to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Mortgage Bonds, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

 

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from Duke Energy Carolinas LLC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule of DCP Midstream, LLC as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from Duke Energy Carolinas’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report dated February 28, 2006, except for the effects of discontinued operations, as discussed in Note 5, which is as of June 1, 2006, contains a separate paragraph that states that as discussed in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements, TEPPCO Partners, L.P. has restated its consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, partners’ capital and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

The validity of the Mortgage Bonds will be passed upon for Duke Energy Carolinas by Robert T. Lucas III, Esq., who is Duke Energy Carolinas’ Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary. In rendering his opinion, Mr. Lucas will rely upon in-house and/or outside South Carolina counsel to Duke Energy Carolinas on all matters of South Carolina law. Certain legal matters with respect to the offering of the Mortgage Bonds will be passed upon for Duke Energy Carolinas by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Washington, D.C. and for the underwriters by Sidley Austin LLP, New York, New York.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, in accordance therewith, file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of these documents at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at its Washington, D.C. address. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information. Our filings with the SEC, as well as additional information about us, are also available to the public through Duke Energy Corporation’s website at http://www.duke-energy.com and are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with or furnished to the SEC. The information on Duke Energy Corporation’s

website is not a part of this prospectus supplement. Our filings are also available to the public through the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents incorporated in the accompanying prospectus at the time the registration statement became effective and all later documents filed with the SEC, in all cases as updated and superseded by later filings with the SEC. Duke Energy Carolinas incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until the offerings are completed:

 

 

We will provide you without charge a copy of these filings, other than any exhibits unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. You may request a copy by writing us at the following address or telephoning one of the following numbers:

 

Investor Relations Department

P.O. Box 1005

Charlotte, North Carolina 28201

(704) 382-3853 or (800) 488-3853 (toll-free)

Prospectus

 

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC

 

Senior Notes

Subordinated Notes

First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds

 

From time to time, we may offer the securities described in the prospectus separately or together in any combination, in one or more classes or series, in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering.

 

We will provide specific terms of these offerings and securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read carefully this prospectus, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the information in the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference into this prospectus before you invest in any of our securities.

 

We may offer and sell the securities directly, through agents we select from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers we select. If we use any agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of those securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from that sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is October 3, 2007.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus

 

 

REFERENCES TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about us from other documents that are not included in or delivered with this prospectus. This information is available for you to review at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549, and through the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. You can also obtain those documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the company at the following address and telephone number:

 

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC

526 South Church Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

(800) 488-3853

Attention: Investor Relations

www.duke-energy.com/investors

 

See “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 16.

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that Duke Energy Carolinas filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we are registering an unspecified amount of Senior Notes, Subordinated Notes and First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, and may issue any of such securities in one or more offerings.

 

This prospectus provides general descriptions of the securities Duke Energy Carolinas may offer. Each time securities are sold, a prospectus supplement will provide specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. The registration statement filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more details about the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Unless we have indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Duke Energy Carolinas,” “we,” “us” and “our” or similar terms are to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and its subsidiaries.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations and statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “will,” “could,” projects,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” or similar expressions.

 

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We do not have any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements after we distribute this prospectus.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation, generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity. Its service area covers approximately 22,000 square miles with an estimated population of 6 million in central and western North Carolina and western South Carolina. Duke Energy Carolinas supplies electric service to more than 2.2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers over 97,000 miles of distribution lines and a 13,000 mile transmission system. In addition, municipal and cooperative customers who purchased portions of the Catawba Nuclear Station may also buy power from a variety of suppliers including Duke Energy Carolinas, through contractual agreements.

 

We are a North Carolina limited liability company. The address of our principal executive offices is 526 South Church Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-1803. Our telephone number is (704) 594-6200.

 

The foregoing information about Duke Energy Carolinas is only a general summary and is not intended to be comprehensive. For additional information about Duke Energy Carolinas, you should refer to the information described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before purchasing any securities we offer, you should carefully consider the risk factors that are incorporated by reference herein from the section captioned “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K report for the year ended December 31, 2006, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any other information that we have incorporated by reference, including filings made with the SEC subsequent to the date hereof. Any of these risks, as well as other risks and uncertainties, could harm our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, Duke Energy Carolinas intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of any offered securities:

 

 

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated using the Securities and Exchange Commission guidelines.

 

 

 

 

Duke Energy Carolinas will issue the Senior Notes in one or more series under its Senior Indenture dated as of September 1, 1998 (the “Senior Indenture”), as supplemented from time to time. Unless otherwise specified, the trustee under the Senior Indenture will be The Bank of New York. The Senior Indenture is an exhibit to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part.

 

The Senior Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with all of Duke Energy Carolinas’ other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds are effectively senior to the Senior Notes to the extent of the value of the properties securing them.

 

The following description of the Senior Notes is only a summary and is not intended to be comprehensive. For additional information you should refer to the Senior Indenture.

 

General

 

The Senior Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Notes that Duke Energy Carolinas may issue under it. Duke Energy Carolinas may issue Senior Notes from time to time under the Senior Indenture in one

or more series by entering into supplemental indentures or by its Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee authorizing the issuance.

 

The Senior Notes of a series need not be issued at the same time, bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date.

 

The Senior Indenture does not protect the holders of Senior Notes if Duke Energy Carolinas engages in a highly leveraged transaction.

 

Provisions Applicable to Particular Series

 

The prospectus supplement for a particular series of Senior Notes being offered will disclose the specific terms related to the offering, including the price or prices at which the Senior Notes to be offered will be issued. Those terms may include some or all of the following:

 

 

 

Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, Duke Energy Carolinas will issue the Senior Notes only in fully registered form without coupons, and there will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Senior Notes. Duke Energy Carolinas may, however, require payment to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange. Subject to the terms of the Senior Indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities, transfers and exchanges of the Senior Notes may be made at The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 or at any other office or agency maintained by Duke Energy Carolinas for such purpose.

 

The Senior Notes will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000, unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may offer and sell the Senior Notes, including original issue discount Senior Notes, at a substantial discount below their principal amount. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe special United States federal income tax and any other considerations applicable to those securities. In addition, the applicable prospectus supplement may describe certain special United States federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to any Senior Notes that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars.

 

Global Securities

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may issue some or all of the Senior Notes as book-entry securities. Any such book-entry securities will be represented by one or more fully registered global securities. Duke Energy Carolinas will register each global security with or on behalf of a securities depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each global security will be deposited with the securities depositary or its nominee or a custodian for the securities depositary.

 

As long as the securities depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security representing Senior Notes, that person will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global security and the Senior Notes it represents for all purposes. Except in limited circumstances, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

 

 

Duke Energy Carolinas will make all payments of principal and any premium and interest on a global security to the securities depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to institutions having accounts with the securities depositary or its nominee, which are called “participants” in this discussion, and to persons that hold beneficial interests through participants. When a global security representing Senior Notes is issued, the

securities depositary will credit on its book entry, registration and transfer system the principal amounts of Senior Notes the global security represents to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by:

 

 

Payments participants make to owners of beneficial interests held through those participants will be the responsibility of those participants. The securities depositary may from time to time adopt various policies and procedures governing payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security. None of the following will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the securities depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to beneficial interests in a global security representing Senior Notes, for payments made on account of those beneficial interests or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests:

 

 

Redemption

 

Provisions relating to the redemption of Senior Notes will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, Duke Energy Carolinas may redeem Senior Notes only upon notice mailed at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, that notice may state that the redemption will be conditional upon the Senior Indenture Trustee, or the applicable paying agent, receiving sufficient funds to pay the principal, premium and interest on those Senior Notes on the date fixed for redemption and that if the Senior Indenture Trustee or the applicable paying agent does not receive those funds, the redemption notice will not apply, and Duke Energy Carolinas will not be required to redeem those Senior Notes.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas will not be required to:

 

 

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

 

The Senior Indenture provides that Duke Energy Carolinas may consolidate or merge with or into, or convey or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, another corporation or other entity. Any successor must, however, assume Duke Energy Carolinas’ obligations under the Senior Indenture and the Senior Notes issued under it, and Duke Energy Carolinas must deliver to the Senior Indenture Trustee a statement by certain of its officers and an opinion of counsel that affirm compliance with all conditions in the Senior Indenture relating to the transaction. When those conditions are satisfied, the successor will succeed to and be substituted for Duke Energy Carolinas under the Senior Indenture, and Duke Energy Carolinas will be relieved of its obligations under the Senior Indenture and the Senior Notes.

 

Modification; Waiver

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may modify the Senior Indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of all series of Senior Notes that are affected by the

modification, voting as one class. The consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note affected is, however, required to:

 

 

In addition, Duke Energy Carolinas may modify the Senior Indenture for certain other purposes, without the consent of any holders of Senior Notes.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of any series may waive, for that series, Duke Energy Carolinas’ compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the Senior Indenture, including the covenant described under “Negative Pledge.” The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of all series under the Senior Indenture with respect to which a default has occurred and is continuing, voting as one class, may waive that default for all those series, except a default in the payment of principal or any premium or interest on any Senior Note or a default with respect to a covenant or provision which cannot be modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note of the series affected.

 

Events of Default

 

The following are events of default under the Senior Indenture with respect to any series of Senior Notes, unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

 

In the case of the fourth event of default listed above, the Senior Indenture Trustee may extend the grace period. In addition, if holders of a particular series have given a notice of default, then holders of at least the same percentage of Senior Notes of that series, together with the Senior Indenture Trustee, may also extend the grace period. The grace period will be automatically extended if Duke Energy Carolinas has initiated and is diligently pursuing corrective action.

Duke Energy Carolinas may establish additional events of default for a particular series and, if established, any such events of default will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

If an event of default with respect to Senior Notes of a series occurs and is continuing, then the Senior Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of that series may declare the principal amount of all Senior Notes of that series to be immediately due and payable. However, that event of default will be considered waived at any time after the declaration, but before a judgment for payment of the money due has been obtained if:

 

 

The Senior Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any holders of Senior Notes unless those holders have offered the Senior Indenture Trustee security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur as a result. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of any series have, with certain exceptions, the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Senior Indenture Trustee or the exercise of any power of the Senior Indenture Trustee with respect to those Senior Notes. The Senior Indenture Trustee may withhold notice of any default, except a default in the payment of principal or interest, from the holders of any series if the Senior Indenture Trustee in good faith considers it in the interest of the holders to do so.

 

The holder of any Senior Note will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium and, within certain limitations, any interest on that Senior Note on its maturity date or redemption date and to enforce those payments.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas is required to furnish each year to the Senior Indenture Trustee a statement by certain of its officers to the effect that it is not in default under the Senior Indenture or, if there has been a default, specifying the default and its status.

 

Payments; Paying Agent

 

The paying agent will pay the principal of any Senior Notes only if those Senior Notes are surrendered to it. The paying agent will pay interest on Senior Notes issued as global securities by wire transfer to the holder of those global securities. Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the paying agent will pay interest on Senior Notes that are not in global form at its office or, at Duke Energy Carolinas’ option:

 

 

Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Senior Indenture Trustee will act as paying agent for that series of Senior Notes, and the principal corporate trust office of the Senior Indenture Trustee will be the office through which the paying agent acts. Duke Energy Carolinas may, however, change or add paying agents or approve a change in the office through which a paying agent acts.

 

Any money that Duke Energy Carolinas has paid to a paying agent for principal or interest on any Senior Notes which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after that principal or interest has become due will be

repaid to Duke Energy Carolinas at its request. After repayment to Duke Energy Carolinas, holders should look only to Duke Energy Carolinas for those payments.

 

Negative Pledge

 

While any of the Senior Notes remain outstanding, Duke Energy Carolinas will not create, or permit to be created or to exist, any mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance upon any of its property, whether owned on or acquired after the date of the Senior Indenture, to secure any indebtedness for borrowed money of Duke Energy Carolinas, unless the Senior Notes then outstanding are equally and ratably secured for so long as any such indebtedness is so secured.

 

The foregoing restriction does not apply with respect to, among other things:

 

 

 

In addition, Duke Energy Carolinas may create or assume any other mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance not excepted in the Senior Indenture without Duke Energy Carolinas equally and ratably securing the Senior Notes, if immediately after that creation or assumption, the principal amount of indebtedness for borrowed money of Duke Energy Carolinas that all such other mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests and other encumbrances secure does not exceed an amount equal to 10% of Duke Energy Carolinas’ common stockholders’ equity as shown on its consolidated balance sheet for the accounting period occurring immediately before the creation or assumption of that mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance.

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

The Senior Indenture provides that Duke Energy Carolinas may be:

 

 

Duke Energy Carolinas must satisfy certain conditions to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance. Those conditions include the irrevocable deposit with the Senior Indenture Trustee, in trust, of money or government obligations which through their scheduled payments of principal and interest would provide sufficient money to pay the principal and any premium and interest on those Senior Notes on the maturity dates of those payments or upon redemption.

 

Following a defeasance, payment of the Senior Notes defeased may not be accelerated because of an event of default under the Senior Indenture. Following a covenant defeasance, the payment of Senior Notes may not be accelerated by reference to the covenants from which Duke Energy Carolinas has been released. A defeasance may occur after a covenant defeasance.

 

Under current United States federal income tax laws, a defeasance would be treated as an exchange of the relevant Senior Notes in which holders of those Senior Notes might recognize gain or loss. In addition, the amount, timing and character of amounts that holders would thereafter be required to include in income might be different from that which would be includible in the absence of that defeasance. Duke Energy Carolinas urges investors to consult their own tax advisors as to the specific consequences of a defeasance, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than United States federal income tax laws.

Under current United States federal income tax law, unless accompanied by other changes in the terms of the Senior Notes, a covenant defeasance should not be treated as a taxable exchange.

 

Concerning the Senior Indenture Trustee

 

The Bank of New York is the Senior Indenture Trustee and is also the trustee under Duke Energy Carolinas’ Subordinated Indenture and its affiliate, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., is the trustee under Duke Energy Carolinas’ First and Refunding Mortgage. Duke Energy Carolinas and certain of its affiliates have banking relationships with The Bank of New York. The Bank of New York or its affiliate also serves as trustee or agent under other indentures and agreements pursuant to which securities of Duke Energy Carolinas and of certain of its affiliates are outstanding.

 

The Senior Indenture Trustee will perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in the Senior Indenture unless an event of default under the Senior Indenture occurs and is continuing. In case an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Senior Indenture Trustee will exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas will issue the Subordinated Notes in one or more series under its Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 1, 1997, as supplemented from time to time. Unless otherwise specified, the trustee under the Subordinated Indenture will be The Bank of New York. The Subordinated Indenture is an exhibit to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part.

 

The Subordinated Notes are unsecured obligations of Duke Energy Carolinas and are junior in right of payment to “Senior Indebtedness” of Duke Energy Carolinas. You will find a description of the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Notes, including a description of Senior Indebtedness of Duke Energy Carolinas, under “Subordination.”

 

The following description of the Subordinated Notes is only a summary and is not intended to be comprehensive. For additional information you should refer to the Subordinated Indenture.

 

General

 

The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Subordinated Notes that Duke Energy Carolinas may issue under it. Duke Energy Carolinas may issue Subordinated Notes from time to time under the Subordinated Indenture in one or more series by entering into supplemental indentures or by its Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee authorizing the issuance.

 

The Subordinated Notes of a series need not be issued at the same time, bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date.

 

The Subordinated Indenture does not protect the holders of Subordinated Notes if Duke Energy Carolinas engages in a highly leveraged transaction.

 

Provisions Applicable to Particular Series

 

The prospectus supplement for a particular series of Subordinated Notes being offered will disclose the specific terms related to the offering, including the price or prices at which the Subordinated Notes to be offered will be issued. Those terms may include some or all of the following:

 

 

 

Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, Duke Energy Carolinas will issue the Subordinated Notes only in fully registered form without coupons, and there will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Subordinated Notes. Duke Energy Carolinas may, however, require payment to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange. Subject to the terms of the Subordinated Indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities, transfers and exchanges of the Subordinated Notes may be made The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 or at any other office maintained by Duke Energy Carolinas for such purpose.

 

The Subordinated Notes will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000, unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Duke Energy Carolinas may offer and sell the Subordinated Notes, including original issue discount Subordinated Notes, at a substantial discount below their principal amount. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe special United States federal income tax and any other considerations applicable to those securities. In addition, the applicable prospectus supplement may describe certain special United States federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to any Subordinated Notes that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars.

 

Global Securities

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may issue some or all of the Subordinated Notes as book-entry securities. Any such book-entry securities will be represented by one or more fully registered global certificates. Duke Energy Carolinas will register each global security with or on behalf of a securities depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each global security will be deposited with the securities depositary or its nominee or a custodian for the securities depositary.

 

As long as the securities depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security representing Subordinated Notes, that person will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global security and the Subordinated Notes it represents for all purposes. Except in limited circumstances, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

 

 

Duke Energy Carolinas will make all payments of principal and any premium and interest on a global security to the securities depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to institutions having accounts with the securities depositary or its nominee, which are called “participants” in this discussion, and to persons that hold beneficial interests through participants. When a global security representing Subordinated Notes is issued, the securities depositary will credit on its book-entry, registration and transfer system the principal amounts of Subordinated Notes the global security represents to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by:

 

 

Payments participants make to owners of beneficial interests held through those participants will be the responsibility of those participants. The securities depositary may from time to time adopt various policies and procedures governing payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security. None of the following will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the securities depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to beneficial interests in a global security representing Subordinated Notes, for payments made on account of those beneficial interests or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests:

 

 

Redemption

 

Provisions relating to the redemption of Subordinated Notes will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, Duke Energy Carolinas may redeem Subordinated Notes only upon notice mailed at least 30, but not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas will not be required to:

 

 

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

 

The Subordinated Indenture provides that Duke Energy Carolinas may consolidate or merge with or into, or convey or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, another corporation or other entity. Any successor must, however, assume Duke Energy Carolinas’ obligations under the Subordinated Indenture and the Subordinated Notes and Duke Energy Carolinas must deliver to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee a statement by certain of its officers and an opinion of counsel that affirm compliance with all conditions in the Subordinated Indenture relating to the transaction. When those conditions are satisfied, the successor will succeed to and be substituted for Duke Energy Carolinas under the Subordinated Indenture, and Duke Energy Carolinas will be relieved of its obligations under the Subordinated Indenture and any Subordinated Notes.

 

Modification; Waiver

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may modify the Subordinated Indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Notes of all series that are affected by the modification, voting as one class. The consent of the holder of each outstanding Subordinated Note affected is, however, required to:

 

 

In addition, Duke Energy Carolinas may modify the Subordinated Indenture for certain other purposes, without the consent of any holders of Subordinated Notes.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Notes of any series may waive, for that series, Duke Energy Carolinas’ compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the

Subordinated Indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Notes of all series under the Subordinated Indenture with respect to which a default has occurred and is continuing, voting as one class, may waive that default for all those series, except a default in the payment of principal or any premium or interest on any Subordinated Note or a default with respect to a covenant or provision which cannot be modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Subordinated Note of the series affected.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may not amend the Subordinated Indenture to change the subordination of any outstanding Subordinated Notes without the consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness that the amendment would adversely affect.

 

Events of Default

 

The following are events of default under the Subordinated Indenture with respect to any series of Subordinated Notes, unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

 

In the case of the fourth event of default listed above, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee may extend the grace period. In addition, if holders of a particular series have given a notice of default, then holders of at least the same percentage of Subordinated Notes of that series, together with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, may also extend the grace period. The grace period will be automatically extended if Duke Energy Carolinas has initiated and is diligently pursuing corrective action.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may establish additional events of default for a particular series and, if established, any such events of default will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

If an event of default with respect to Subordinated Notes of a series occurs and is continuing, then the Subordinated Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Notes of that series may declare the principal amount of all Subordinated Notes of that series to be immediately due and payable. However, that event of default will be considered waived at any time after the declaration but before a judgment for payment of the money due has been obtained if:

 

 

The Subordinated Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any holders of Subordinated Notes unless those holders have offered the Subordinated Indenture Trustee security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur as a

result. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Notes of any series have, with certain exceptions, the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee or the exercise of any power of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee with respect to those Subordinated Notes. The Subordinated Indenture Trustee may withhold notice of any default, except a default in the payment of principal or interest, from the holders of any series if the Subordinated Indenture Trustee in good faith considers it in the interest of the holders to do so.

 

The holder of any Subordinated Note will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium and, within certain limitations, any interest on that Subordinated Note on its maturity date or redemption date and to enforce those payments.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas is required to furnish each year to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee a statement by certain of its officers to the effect that it is not in default under the Subordinated Indenture or, if there has been a default, specifying the default and its status.

 

Payments; Paying Agent

 

The paying agent will pay the principal of any Subordinated Notes only if those Subordinated Notes are surrendered to it. The paying agent will pay interest on Subordinated Notes issued as global securities by wire transfer to the holder of those global securities. Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the paying agent will pay interest on Subordinated Notes that are not in global form at its office or, at Duke Energy Carolinas’ option:

 

 

Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee will act as paying agent for that series of Subordinated Notes, and the principal corporate trust office of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee will be the office through which the paying agent acts. Duke Energy Carolinas may, however, change or add paying agents or approve a change in the office through which a paying agent acts.

 

Any money that Duke Energy Carolinas has paid to a paying agent for principal or interest on any Subordinated Notes that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after that principal or interest has become due will be repaid to Duke Energy Carolinas at its request. After repayment to Duke Energy Carolinas, holders should look only to Duke Energy Carolinas for those payments.

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

The Subordinated Indenture provides that Duke Energy Carolinas may be:

 

 

Duke Energy Carolinas must satisfy certain conditions to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance. Those conditions include the irrevocable deposit with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, in trust, of money or government obligations which through their scheduled payments of principal and interest would provide sufficient money to pay the principal and any premium and interest on those Subordinated Notes on the

maturity dates of those payments or upon redemption. Following a defeasance, payment of the Subordinated Notes defeased may not be accelerated because of an event of default under the Subordinated Indenture.

 

Under current United States federal income tax laws, a defeasance would be treated as an exchange of the relevant Subordinated Notes in which holders of those Subordinated Notes might recognize gain or loss. In addition, the amount, timing and character of amounts that holders would thereafter be required to include in income might be different from that which would be includible in the absence of that defeasance. Duke Energy Carolinas urges investors to consult their own tax advisors as to the specific consequences of a defeasance, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than United States federal income tax laws.

 

Subordination

 

Each series of Subordinated Notes will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness as defined below. If:

 

 

then the holders of Senior Indebtedness generally will have the right to receive payment, in the case of the first instance, of all amounts due or to become due upon that Senior Indebtedness, and, in the case of the second and third instances, of all amounts due on the Senior Indebtedness, or Duke Energy Carolinas will make provision for those payments, before the holders of any Subordinated Notes have the right to receive any payments of principal or interest on their Subordinated Notes.

 

“Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to any series of Subordinated Notes, the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect of any of the following:

 

 

Any such indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding, however, will not be Senior Indebtedness if the instrument creating or evidencing it or the assumption or guarantee of it provides that it is not superior in right of payment to or is equal in right of payment with those Subordinated Notes. Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in the Subordinated Indenture irrespective of the amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness.

 

Future series of Subordinated Notes that are not Subordinated Notes may rank senior to outstanding series of Subordinated Notes and would constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to those series.

 

The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness that Duke Energy Carolinas may issue. As of March 31, 2007, Duke Energy Carolinas’ Senior Indebtedness totaled approximately $5.3 billion.

 

Concerning the Subordinated Indenture Trustee

 

The Bank of New York is the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and is also the Senior Indenture Trustee, and its affiliate, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., is the trustee under Duke Energy Carolinas’

First and Refunding Mortgage. Duke Energy Carolinas and certain of its affiliates have banking relationships with The Bank of New York. The Bank of New York or its affiliate also serves as trustee or agent under other indentures and agreements pursuant to which securities of Duke Energy Carolinas and of certain of its affiliates are outstanding.

 

The Subordinated Indenture Trustee will perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in the Subordinated Indenture unless an event of default under the Subordinated Indenture occurs and is continuing. In case an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee will exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas will issue the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds in one or more series under its First and Refunding Mortgage, dated as of December 1, 1927, to The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.,, as Trustee, as supplemented and amended from time to time. The First and Refunding Mortgage is sometimes called the “Mortgage” and the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds are sometimes called the “Bonds” in this prospectus. The trustee under the Mortgage is sometimes called the “Bond Trustee” in this prospectus. The Mortgage is an exhibit to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part.

 

The following description of the Bonds is only a summary and is not intended to be comprehensive. For additional information you should refer to the Mortgage.

 

General

 

The amount of Bonds that Duke Energy Carolinas may issue under the Mortgage is unlimited. Duke Energy Carolinas’ Board of Directors will determine the terms of each series of Bonds, including denominations, maturity, interest rate and payment terms and whether the series will have redemption or sinking fund provisions or will be convertible into other securities of Duke Energy Carolinas. The Bonds may also be issued as part of the medium term note series established under the Mortgage.

 

Unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, Duke Energy Carolinas will issue the Bonds only in fully registered form without coupons and there will be no service charge for any transfers and exchanges of the Bonds. Duke Energy Carolinas may, however, require payment to cover any stamp tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange. Transfers and exchanges of the Bonds may be made at The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 or at any other office maintained by Duke Energy Carolinas for such purpose.

 

The Bonds will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000, unless Duke Energy Carolinas states otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The Bonds will be exchangeable for an equivalent principal amount of Bonds of other authorized denominations of the same series.

 

The prospectus supplement for a particular series of Bonds will describe the maturity, interest rate and payment terms of those Bonds and any relevant redemption or sinking fund provisions.

 

Security

 

The Mortgage creates a continuing lien to secure the payment of principal and interest on the Bonds. All the Bonds are equally and ratably secured without preference, priority or distinction. With some exceptions, the lien of the Mortgage covers substantially all of Duke Energy Carolinas’ properties, real, personal and mixed, and Duke Energy Carolinas’ franchises, including properties acquired after the date of the Mortgage and the date hereof. Those exceptions include cash, accounts receivable, inventories of materials and supplies, merchandise held for sale, securities that Duke Energy Carolinas holds, after-acquired property not useful in Duke Energy Carolinas’ electric business, after-acquired franchises and after-acquired non-electric properties.

 

We have not made any appraisal of the value of the properties subject to the lien. The value of the properties in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. In the event of liquidation, if the proceeds were not sufficient to repay amounts under

all of the Bonds then outstanding, then holders of the Bonds, to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral, would only have an unsecured claim against our remaining assets. As of June 30, 2007, we had total senior secured indebtedness of approximately $1.6 billion and total senior unsecured indebtedness of approximately $3.8 billion.

 

The lien of the Mortgage is subject to certain permitted liens and to liens that exist upon properties that Duke Energy Carolinas acquired after it entered into the Mortgage to the extent of the amounts of prior lien bonds secured by those properties (not, however, exceeding 75% of the cost or value of those properties) and additions to those properties. “Prior lien bonds” are bonds or other indebtedness that are secured at the time of acquisition by a lien upon property that Duke Energy Carolinas acquires after the date of the Mortgage that becomes subject to the lien of the Mortgage.

 

Issuance of Additional Bonds

 

If Duke Energy Carolinas satisfies the conditions in the Mortgage, the Bond Trustee may authenticate and deliver additional Bonds in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding:

 

 

The Bond Trustee may not authenticate and deliver any additional Bonds under the Mortgage, other than some types of refunding Bonds, unless Duke Energy Carolinas’ available net earnings for twelve consecutive calendar months within the immediately preceding fifteen calendar months have been at least twice the amount of the annual interest charges on all Bonds outstanding under the Mortgage, including the Bonds proposed to be issued, and on all outstanding prior lien bonds that the Bond Trustee does not hold under the Mortgage.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may not apply to the Bond Trustee to authenticate and deliver any Bonds (1) in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $26,000,000 on the basis of additional property (electric) that Duke Energy Carolinas acquired or constructed prior to January 1, 1949 or (2) on the basis of Bonds or prior lien bonds paid, purchased or redeemed prior to February 1, 1949. Duke Energy Carolinas may not certify any additional property (electric) which is subject to the lien of any prior lien bonds for the purpose of establishing those prior lien bonds as refundable if the aggregate principal amount of those prior lien bonds exceeds 662/3% of the net amount of the additional property that is subject to the lien of such prior lien bonds.

 

Release Provisions

 

The Mortgage permits Duke Energy Carolinas to dispose of certain property and to take other actions without the Bond Trustee releasing that property. The Mortgage also permits the release of mortgaged property if Duke Energy Carolinas deposits cash or other consideration equal to the value of the mortgaged property to be released. In certain events and within certain limitations, the Bond Trustee is required to pay out cash that the Bond Trustee receives — other than for the Replacement Fund or as the basis for issuing Bonds — upon Duke Energy Carolinas’ application.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may withdraw cash that it deposited with the Bond Trustee as the basis for issuing Bonds in an amount equal to the principal amount of any Bonds that it is entitled to have authenticated and delivered on the basis of additional property (electric), on the basis of Bonds previously authenticated and delivered or on the basis of refundable prior lien bonds.

 

Replacement Fund

 

The Mortgage requires Duke Energy Carolinas to deposit with the Bond Trustee annually, for the Replacement Fund established under the Mortgage, the sum of the “replacement requirements” for all years

beginning with 1949 and ending with the last calendar year preceding the deposit date, less certain deductions. Those deductions are (1) the aggregate original cost of all fixed property (electric) retired during that time period, not exceeding the aggregate of the gross amounts of additional property (electric) that Duke Energy Carolinas acquired or constructed during the same period, and (2) the aggregate amount of cash that Duke Energy Carolinas deposited with the Bond Trustee up to that time, or that Duke Energy Carolinas would have been required to deposit except for permitted reductions, under the Replacement Fund.

 

The “replacement requirement” for any year is 21/2% of the average “amount of depreciable fixed property” (electric) owned by Duke Energy Carolinas at the beginning and end of that year, not exceeding, however, the amount Duke Energy Carolinas is permitted to charge as an operating expense for depreciation or retirement by any governmental authority, or the amount deductible as depreciation or similar expense for federal income tax purposes. The “amount of depreciable fixed property” (electric) is the amount by which the sum of $192,913,385 plus the aggregate gross amount of all depreciable additional property (electric) that Duke Energy Carolinas acquired or constructed from January 1, 1949 to the date as of which such amount is determined exceeds the original cost of all of Duke Energy Carolinas’ depreciable fixed property (electric) retired during that period or released from the lien of the Mortgage.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may reduce the amount of cash at any time required to be deposited in the Replacement Fund and may withdraw any cash that it previously deposited that is held in the Replacement Fund:

 

 

Upon Duke Energy Carolinas’ application, the Bond Trustee will apply cash that Duke Energy Carolinas deposited in the Replacement Fund and has not previously withdrawn to the payment, purchase or redemption of Bonds issued under the Mortgage or to the purchase of refundable prior lien bonds.

 

Duke Energy Carolinas has never deposited any cash with the Bond Trustee for the Replacement Fund. If Duke Energy Carolinas deposits any cash in the future, it has agreed not to apply that cash to the redemption of the Bonds as long as any Bonds then outstanding remain outstanding.

 

Amendments of the Mortgage

 

Duke Energy Carolinas may amend the Mortgage with the consent of the holders of 662/3% in principal amount of the Bonds, except that no such amendment may:

 

 

No amendment may affect the rights under the Mortgage of the holders of less than all of the series of Bonds outstanding unless the holders of 662/3% in principal amount of the Bonds of each series affected consent to the amendment.

 

The covenants included in the supplemental indenture for any series of Bonds to be issued will be solely for the benefit of the holders of those Bonds. Duke Energy Carolinas may modify any such covenant only with the consent of the holders of 662/3% in principal amount of those Bonds outstanding, without the consent of Bondholders of any other series.

Events of Default

 

The Bond Trustee may, and at the written request of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Bonds will, declare the principal of all outstanding Bonds due when any event of default under the Mortgage occurs. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Bonds may, however, waive the default and rescind the declaration if Duke Energy Carolinas cures the default.

 

Events of default under the Mortgage include:

 

 

Duke Energy Carolinas provides a statement by its officers each year to the Bond Trustee stating whether it has complied with the covenants of the Mortgage.

 

Concerning the Bond Trustee

 

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., is the Bond Trustee and its affiliate, The Bank of New York, is the Senior Indenture Trustee and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee. Duke Energy Carolinas and some of its affiliates have banking relationships with The Bank of New York. The Bank of New York or its affiliate also serves as trustee or agent under other indentures and agreements pursuant to which securities of Duke Energy Carolinas and of some of its affiliates are outstanding.

 

The Bond Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers at the request of any of the holders of the Bonds unless those Bondholders have offered to the Bond Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the cost, expenses and liabilities it might incur as a result. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Bond Trustee, or the exercise of any trust or power of the Bond Trustee. The Bond Trustee will not be liable for any action that it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with any such direction.

 

We may sell securities to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them, or we may sell the securities to investors directly or through agents. The prospectus supplement relating to the securities being offered will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

 

 

Only those underwriters identified in the prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement.

 

We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the prospectus supplement specifies. We may sell securities through forward contracts or similar arrangements. In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

 

We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities covered by this prospectus will be named in a prospectus supplement relating to such securities. Commissions payable by us to agents will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the securities being offered. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, any such agents will be acting on a best-efforts basis for the period of their appointment.

 

Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents and some of their affiliates who participate in the securities distribution may engage in other transactions with, and perform other services for, us and our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

Any underwriting or other compensation which we pay to underwriters or agents in connection with the securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions which underwriters allow to dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions they receive and any profit they realize on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. Underwriters, and their controlling persons, and agents may be entitled, under agreements we enter into with them, to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Duke Energy Carolinas’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph regarding the April 3, 2006 conversion to a limited liability company and the transfer of a subsidiary to its parent), which is incorporated herein by reference, and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule of DCP Midstream, LLC as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Duke Energy Carolinas’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report dated February 28, 2006, except for the effects of discontinued operations, as discussed in Note 5, which is as of June 1, 2006, contains a separate paragraph that states that as discussed in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements, TEPPCO Partners, L.P. has restated its consolidated balance sheet as of December 31,

2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, partners’ capital and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

Robert T. Lucas III, Esq., who is our Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, and/or counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement, will issue an opinion about the validity of the securities we are offering in the applicable prospectus supplement. Counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement will pass upon certain legal matters on behalf of any underwriters.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, in accordance therewith, file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of these documents at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at its Washington, D.C. address. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information. Our filings are also available to the public through Duke Energy’s web site at http://www.duke-energy.com and are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with or furnished to the SEC. The information on our website is not a part of this prospectus. Our filings are also available to the public through the SEC web site at http://www.sec.gov .

 

Additional information about Duke Energy Carolinas is also available at http://www.duke-energy.com. Such web site is not a part of this prospectus.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents incorporated in the prospectus at the time the registration statement became effective and all later documents filed with the SEC, in all cases as updated and superseded by later filings with the SEC. Duke Energy incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until the offering is completed.

 

 

We will provide without charge a copy of these filings, other than any exhibits unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You may request a copy by writing us at the following address or telephoning one of the following numbers:

 

Investor Relations Department
P.O. Box 1005
Charlotte, North Carolina 28201
(704) 382-3853 or (800) 488-3853 (toll-free)

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell the securities described in this prospectus in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in the prospectus is accurate only as of its date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC

SENIOR NOTES

SUBORDINATED NOTES

FIRST AND REFUNDING MORTGAGE BONDS

 

PROSPECTUS