Duke Energy powers up $148 million contribution to pension plans

Duke Energy Corp., Charlotte, N.C., plans to contribute $148 million to its cash balance plans in 2018, the company disclosed in its 10-K on Wednesday.

The company already contributed $141 million of that total on Jan. 2. It contributed $19 million in 2017 and $155 million in 2016.

As of Dec. 31, Duke Energy's plan assets totaled $9 billion, while projected benefit obligations totaled $8.45 billion, for a funding ratio of 106.5%, up from 104.9% the previous year.

The plans' discount rate at the end of 2017 was 3.6%, down from 4.1% a year earlier.

As of Dec. 31, the actual allocation for the master trust was 63% fixed income, 11% domestic equities, 10% global equities, 8% international equities, and 2% each global private equity, hedge funds, real estate and other global securities.