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

Duke Energy Corp. 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 (NYSE: DUK) 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 in the settlement.

The company also would pay $68.2 million in fines…