UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2022

DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

North Carolina
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or
Organization)

1-04928
(Commission File Number)

56-0205520
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

526 South Church Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-1803

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

(704) 382-3853

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

¨ Emerging growth company

¨ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:		Trading Symbol(s):		Name of each exchange on which registered:
		None

Item 8.01.

Other Events.

On March 4, 2022, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (the “Company”) consummated the issuance and sale of the securities described below pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated March 1, 2022 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with Mizuho Securities USA LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Underwriters $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, 2.85% Series due 2032 and $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, 3.55% Series due 2052 (collectively, the “Sustainability Bonds”). The Sustainability Bonds were sold to the Underwriters at a discount to their principal amount. The Sustainability Bonds were issued under the First and Refunding Mortgage, dated as of December 1, 1927, as amended and supplemented from time to time, including by the One-Hundred and Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 4, 2022 (the “One-Hundred and Sixth Supplemental Indenture”), relating to the Sustainability Bonds, each between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (as so amended and supplemented, the “Mortgage”). The disclosure in this Item 8.01 is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Mortgage, including the One-Hundred and Sixth Supplemental Indenture which together with the forms of global bonds evidencing the Sustainability Bonds, is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, and the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. Such exhibits are incorporated herein by reference. Also, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Sustainability Bonds, the Company is filing a legal opinion regarding the validity of the Sustainability Bonds as Exhibit 5.1 to this Form 8-K for the purpose of incorporating the opinion into the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-233896-06).

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)

Exhibits

Exhibit		Description

Exhibit 4.1		One-Hundred and Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 4, 2022 between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, and forms of global bonds representing the First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, 2.85% Series due 2032 and First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, 3.55% Series due 2052

Exhibit 5.1		Opinion regarding validity of the Sustainability Bonds

Exhibit 23.1		Consent (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)

Exhibit 99.1		Underwriting Agreement, dated March 1, 2022, among the Company and Mizuho Securities USA LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein

Exhibit 104		Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within Inline XBRL document.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC
Date: March 4, 2022

	By:	/s/ Robert T. Lucas III
		Name:	Robert T. Lucas III
		Title:	Assistant Secretary

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 8-K