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BALTIMORE & COLUMBUS, Md.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Customers in the Duke Energy Ohio service territory will continue to reap the benefits of lower energy costs in a competitive marketplace under an order issued today by state energy regulators, according to Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG), one of the nationas leading competitive energy suppliers.

"In addition, the competitive market model embraced in the Duke settlement will better allow the Ohio marketplace to take advantage of the robust competitive wholesale market in order to respond to any future environmental and clean energy initiatives in the most competitive manner."

David Fein, Constellationas vice president for Energy Policy for the Midwest, said the order regarding the Duke Energy Ohio (Duke) Electric Security Plan accepted today by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) also will lead to further expansion of the innovative energy solutions that Duke customers have been enjoying in Ohio.

aResidential and business consumers throughout southern Ohio will benefit from todayas action by the PUCO,a Fein said. aThis settlement provides consumers with continued and expanded access to the innovative products and services that are being enjoyed by customers in competitive markets across the U.S., including renewable energy products, and it provides a superior platform to advance demand response innovations that empower customers to manage energy use in response to real time price signals.a

Fein added, aIn addition, the competitive market model embraced in the Duke settlement will better allow the Ohio marketplace to take advantage of the robust competitive wholesale market in order to respond to any future environmental and clean energy initiatives in the most competitive manner.a

Fein said the PUCOas adoption of the Duke settlement reinforces the stateas continued support for competitive energy markets. The Duke rate plan embodied in the PUCOas Order is effective Jan. 1, 2012 through May 31, 2015.

Fein was among the witnesses who testified before the PUCO on Oct. 24 on behalf of interveners in support of the settlement.

About Constellation Energy

Constellation Energy ([ www.constellation.com ]) is a leading competitive supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. It owns a diversified fleet of generating units, totaling approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a leading advocate for clean, environmentally sustainable energy sources, such as solar power and nuclear energy. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy had revenues of $14.3 billion in 2010.