Duke Energy agrees to accept punishment on nine misdemeanor charges in coal ash probe

Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) has reached a proposed plea agreement with federal prosecutors on nine misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act to settle a federal grand jury investigation spurred by last year’s massive coal ash spill.

Charlotte-based Duke, run by CEO Lynn Good ( one of Bizwomen’s women to watch this week), would be sentenced to five years of probation, under the terms of the agreement, with a court-appointed monitor assigned to make sure the company complies with requirements…