Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                             DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
                           EXECUTIVE CASH BALANCE PLAN

                AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1999

                                    SECTION 1
                                 PURPOSE OF PLAN

          The purpose of the Duke Energy Corporation Executive Cash Balance Plan
(the "Plan") is to provide additional retirement benefits for a select group of
management or highly compensated employees. The Plan was effective as of January
1, 1997, and has been amended from time to time and is amended and restated
herein as of January 1, 1999. Effective January 1, 1999, the Plan replaces the
PanEnergy Corp Key Executive Retirement Benefit Equalization Plan and all
benefits provided thereunder shall be provided in accordance with the terms set
forth herein. The Plan is intended to be a non-qualified, unfunded plan of
deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated
employees under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"),
as amended, and shall be so interpreted and administered.

                                    SECTION 2
                                   DEFINITIONS

          Wherever used herein, a pronoun or adjective in the masculine gender
includes the feminine gender, the singular includes the plural, and the
following terms have the following meanings unless a different meaning is
clearly required by the context:

          2.1 "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by a
Participant, or by another person entitled to receive benefits hereunder, to
receive benefits following the death of such person.

          2.2 "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of Duke Energy
Corporation.

          2.3 "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred upon;

               (i) an acquisition subsequent to the Effective Date hereof by any
          individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
          14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
          "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the
          meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of thirty
          percent (30%) or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of
          common stock of Duke Energy Corporation or (B) the combined voting
          power of the then outstanding voting securities of Duke Energy
          Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;
          excluding, however, the following: (1) any acquisition directly from
          Duke Energy Corporation, other than an acquisition by virtue of the
          exercise of a conversion privilege unless the security being so
          converted was itself acquired directly from Duke Energy Corporation,
          (2) any acquisition by Duke Energy Corporation and (3) any acquisition
          by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained
          by Duke Energy Corporation or its affiliated companies;

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               (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years (not
          including any period prior to the Effective Date), individuals who at
          the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors (and
          any new directors whose election by the Board of Directors or
          nomination for election by the Duke Energy Corporation's shareholders
          was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors
          then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the
          period or whose election or nomination for election was so approved)
          cease for any reason (except for death, disability or voluntary
          retirement) to constitute a majority thereof;

               (iii) the approval by the shareholders of Duke Energy Corporation
          of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar corporate
          transaction, whether or not Duke Energy Corporation is the surviving
          corporation in such transaction, other than a merger, consolidation,
          or reorganization that would result in the voting securities of Duke
          Energy Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
          represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
          voting securities of the surviving entity) at least fifty percent
          (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of Duke
          Energy Corporation (or such surviving entity) outstanding immediately
          after such merger, consolidation or reorganization.

               (iv) the approval by the shareholders of Duke Energy Corporation
          of (A) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
          the assets of Duke Energy Corporation or (B) a complete liquidation or
          dissolution of Duke Energy Corporation, or

               (v) adoption by the Board of Directors of a resolution to the
          effect that any Person has acquired effective control of the business
          and affairs of Duke Energy Corporation.

     2.4 "Company" means Duke Energy Corporation and its affiliated companies.

     2.5 "Compensation" means "Compensation" as defined in the Retirement Cash
Balance Plan but without regard to the limitations of Code Section 401(a)(17)
and including Employee deferrals under the Duke Energy Corporation Executive
Savings Plan.

     2.6 "Compensation Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors.

     2.7 "Employee" means a person employed by the Company.

     2.8 "Equalization Plan" means the PanEnergy Corp Key Executive Retirement
Benefit Equalization Plan as it existed on December 31, 1998.

     2.9 "Executive Benefits Committee" means the Executive Benefits Committee
of Duke Energy Corporation, as appointed by the Management Committee from time
to time.

     2.10 "Interest Credit" means the amount determined by multiplying the
balance of a Cash Balance Account by the Interest Factor for a month.

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     2.11 "Interest Factor" means the interest rate determined by the formula
(1 + i)(I/12) - 1, where "i" equals the yield on 30-year Treasury Bonds as
published in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 for the end of the
third full business week of the month prior to the beginning of the calendar
quarter for which the monthly accrual is being applied, but not more than an
annual percentage rate of nine percent (9%) and not less than an annual
percentage rate of four percent (4%).

     2.12 "Make Whole Benefit" means the benefit provided pursuant to section
4.2 of the Plan.

     2.13 "Management Committee" means the Management Committee of the Board of
Directors.

     2.14 "Participant" means an Employee who is entitled to receive benefits
from the Plan.

     2.15 "Pay Credit" means a credit that is added to a Participant's Make
Whole Account pursuant to Section 4.2.

     2.16 "Retirement Cash Balance Plan" means the Duke Energy Retirement Cash
Balance Plan as in effect from time to time.

     2.17 "Supplemental Credit" means a credit that is added to a Participant's
Supplemental Account pursuant to Section 4.3.

     2.18 "Supplemental Benefit" means the benefit provided under section 4.3 of
the Plan.

     2.19 "Supplemental Security Plan" means the Duke Power Company Supplemental
Security Plan as it existed on December 31, 1996.

     2.20 "Supplemental Retirement Plan" means the Supplemental Retirement Plan
for Employees of Duke Power Company as it existed on December 31, 1996.

                                    SECTION 3
                                   ELIGIBILITY

     3.1 All Employees who are members of the Management Committee shall be
automatically eligible to participate in this Plan. Any other Employee
designated by the Management Committee (or its delegatee) shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan and shall remain eligible as long as he continues to be
an Employee or until designated ineligible by the Management Committee (or its
delegatee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Employee who is not a member of a
"select group of management or highly compensated employees" within the meaning
of ERISA, may not participate in the Plan. Participants shall not receive any
benefits under the terms of the Supplemental Retirement Plan, the Supplemental
Security Plan or the Equalization Plan.

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     3.2 Former Employees, (i) whose Company employment terminated before
January 1, 1997, and who had accrued benefits under the Supplemental Retirement
Plan or Supplemental Security Plan, or (ii) whose Company employment terminated
before January 1, 1999, and who had accrued benefits under the Equalization
Plan, will receive payment, or will continue to receive payment, of such
benefits under the terms of such plans. Such former Employees will not
participate in this Plan.

                                    SECTION 4
                                    BENEFITS

     4.1 The Plan provides a Make-Whole Benefit and may provide a Supplemental
Benefit. Each Participant shall have a Make-Whole Account, which is a
bookkeeping account established under this Plan and shall be eligible for a
Make-Whole Benefit. The Management Committee (or its delegatee) or, if a
Participant is a member of the Management Committee, the Compensation Committee,
will determine whether a Participant is to be eligible for a Supplemental
Benefit; in either case a Supplemental Account, which is a bookkeeping account
shall be established.

     4.2 Under the Make-Whole Benefit, for any month that a Participant is
eligible to participate in this Plan, the Participant's Make-Whole Account shall
receive a Pay Credit equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the pay credit that
would have been provided under the Retirement Cash Balance Plan for the month if
the Retirement Cash Balance Plan used the definition of Compensation set forth
herein and, to the extent determined by the Management Committee (or its
delegatee) from time to time, other types of excluded pay were treated as
eligible compensation under such Plan; over (b) the pay credit for the month
that is actually made to the Participant's account under the Retirement Cash
Balance Plan. A Participant, while "Disabled" as defined in the Retirement Cash
Balance Plan and continuing to receive pay credits to the Participant's account
under the Retirement Cash Balance Plan, shall continue to receive Pay Credits to
the Participant's Make-Whole Account determined on the same basis as his
continued pay credits under the Retirement Cash Balance Plan, and based upon his
eligible Compensation immediately prior to disability.

     In addition, the Make Whole Benefit provides a Pay Credit to the
Participant's Make-Whole Account equal to any reduction in a benefit under the
Retirement Cash Balance Plan resulting from the limitations imposed by section
415 of the Code. Where an opening account balance under the Retirement Cash
Balance Plan has been established for a Participant, the Management Committee
(or its delegatee) or, if the Participant is a member of the Management
Committee, the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may establish an
opening balance for the Participant's Make-Whole Account that is designed to
provide a transition benefit comparable to the benefit provided through the
Retirement Cash Balance Plan opening account balance, but without regard to the
limitations imposed by Sections 401(a)(17) or 415 of the Code. If the value of
the benefit which a vested Participant had accrued under the Supplemental

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Retirement Plan as of December 31, 1996, is greater than the value of the
Participant's Make-Whole Account on the date the Participant retires, such
higher value shall apply.

     4.3 A Participant's Supplemental Account shall receive such Supplemental
Credits, in such amounts and at such times, as the Management Committee (or its
delegatee) or, if the Participant is a member of the Management Committee, as
the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine. Supplemental
Credits may include, but are not limited to, an opening account balance or a
one-time credit in recognition of the December 31, 1998, discontinuance of
supplemental pay credits.

     4.4 An Interest Credit will be added to a Participant's Make-Whole Account
and to a Participant's Supplemental Account as of the end of each calendar month
ending prior to the month in which the respective account is fully distributed
or forfeited. The amount of the Interest Credit for a month will equal the
balance of the respective account as of the end of the prior month (after adding
any Pay Credit, Supplemental Credit and Interest Credit for the prior month and
subtracting any payment or forfeiture for the prior month) multiplied by the
Interest Factor for the month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Interest Credits
to the Supplemental Account of a Participant whose employment with the Company
terminates before attaining the earliest retirement age under the Retirement
Cash Balance Plan will be suspended beginning with the month during which
employment terminates and will not resume until the month following the month
during which payment of the Supplemental Benefit commences.

                                   SECTION 5
                                    VESTING

     Unless the Management Committee (or its delegatee), or the Compensation
Committee, provides otherwise for a particular Participant at the time the
Participant initially becomes eligible to participate in the Plan or at the time
of an award of a particular Supplemental Credit (and any Interest Credits
thereto), a Participant will become fully vested in the Participant's
Make-Whole Account and the Participant's Supplemental Account, if any, (i) when
the Participant becomes vested under the Retirement Cash Balance Plan, or (ii)
the Participant's employment with the Company terminates on account of the
Participant's death or the Participant having become "Disabled", as defined in
the Retirement Cash Balance Plan. If a Participant's employment with the Company
terminates and the Participant is not fully vested, the unvested portion of the
Participant's Make-Whole Account and of the Participant's Supplemental Account,
if any, shall be immediately forfeited and no benefit under the Plan shall be
paid with respect thereto.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, any one-time Supplemental Credit to a
Participant's Supplemental Account that is made in recognition of the December
31, 1998 discontinuance of supplemental pay credit, and any Interest Credits
thereon, shall not vest, and shall be forfeited if the Participant's employment
with the Company terminates before January 1, 2004, unless such employment
termination is on account of the Participant's retirement under the Retirement
Cash Balance Plan, death, or the Participant having become "Disabled," as
defined in the Retirement Cash Balance Plan, or unless such employment
termination is by the Company other than for

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"cause". The Company shall have "cause" to terminate the Participant's
employment upon (a) the willful and continued failure by the Participant to
substantially perform his employment duties (other than any such failure
resulting from the Participant's incapacity due to physical or mental illness)
after demand for substantial performance is delivered by the Company,
specifically identifying the manner in which the Company believes the
Participant has not substantially performed his duties, or (b) the willful
engaging by the Participant in misconduct which is materially injurious to the
Company, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of this section, no act, or
failure to act, on the Participant's part shall be considered "willful" unless
done, or omitted to be done, by him not in good faith and without reasonable
belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

     In the event of a Change in Control, all Participant Accounts shall become
fully and immediately vested and non-forfeitable and shall thereafter be
maintained and paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan.

                                    SECTION 6
                               PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

     6.1 A Participant whose Company employment terminates prior to the
Participant's earliest retirement age under the Retirement Cash Balance Plan
will receive, or will begin to receive, payment of his vested Make-Whole Account
and his vested Supplemental Account, if any, as soon as administratively
feasible following the month in which the Participant attains age 55. A
Participant whose Company employment terminates after the Participant's earliest
retirement age under the Retirement Cash Balance Plan will receive, or will
begin to receive, payment of his vested Make-Whole Account and his vested
Supplemental Account, if any, as soon as administratively feasible following the
month in which the Participant's employment terminates. However, a Participant,
while "Disabled," (as defined in the Retirement Cash Balance Plan) and
continuing to receive pay credits to the Participant's account under the
Retirement Cash Balance Plan, shall not receive payment of benefits during the
period the Participant receives such pay credits, any other Participant whose
Company employment terminates and whose Make-Whole Account and Supplemental
Account, if any, have a combined balance, as of the last day of the month during
which employment terminated, of less than $25,000 will receive payment of his
vested Make-Whole Account and his vested Supplemental Account, if any, in a
single sum, as soon as administratively feasible following the month in which
the Participant's employment terminates under this Plan.

     6.2(a) A Participant who is eligible to participate in the Plan on January
1, 1999, must elect his form of benefit payment prior to that date by
completing such form as the Executive Benefits Committee shall require and
filing the completed form with the Executive Benefits Committee. Benefit payment
elections made prior to January 1, 1999 in a form other than a single sum under
the Equalization Plan, or any election of a single life annuity or joint and
survivor annuity distribution under any other plan, shall be automatically
converted to the monthly payments for fifteen years option. Participants who are
first designated as eligible on or after January 1, 1999 must elect a form of
benefit payment within 30 days after being designated

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eligible to participate in the Plan by completing such form as the Executive
Benefits Committee shall require and filing the completed form with the
Executive Benefits Committee. A Participant may change his or her of benefit
payment election at any time, and from time to time, by completing such form as
the Executive Benefits Committee provides and filing the completed form with the
Executive Benefits Committee. A Participant may not make more than one such
change in any 12-month period and no such change shall become effective unless
and until the Participant has continued in employment with the Company for at
least one year from the date on which the completed change form was filed with
the Executive Benefits Committee.

     6.2(b) The forms of benefit payment available under the Plan are:

            (1)  single sum payment;
            (2)  monthly payments for three years;
            (3)  monthly payments for ten years;
            (4)  monthly payments for fifteen years.

At such time as benefits under the Plan become payable with respect to a
Participant, such benefits shall be paid in accordance with the benefit payment
form then in effect unless otherwise expressly provided by the Plan.

     6.2(c) Under the monthly payment for three, ten or fifteen years form, the
amount of payment for a particular month shall be calculated as follows:

                 Monthly amount = V
                                  -
                                  N

                where

                N    represents the number of months remaining in the payment
                     term and

                V    represents sum of the balance of the Participant's
                     Make-Whole Account and the balance of the Participant's
                     Supplemental Account, if any, determined as of the end of
                     the prior month after adding any Pay Credits, supplemental
                     credits and Interest Credits for the prior month and
                     subtracting any payment or forfeiture for the prior month.

     6.3 Any benefit payment due under the Plan shall be paid in cash.

     6.4 Upon written request by a Participant, the Executive Benefits Committee
may distribute to a Participant who is receiving a monthly payment form of
distribution, such amount of the remaining balance of the Participant's vested
Cash Balance Account and vested Supplemental Account, if any, which the
Executive Benefits Committee determines is necessary to provide for a financial
hardship suffered by the Participant. For this purpose, "financial hardship"
shall mean a severe financial hardship as determined under federal income tax
law, regulations and rulings which are applicable to non-qualified deferred
compensation plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any member of the
Executive Benefits Committee requests a hardship distribution,

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then such Executive Benefits Committee member shall take no part in the
discussion or decision concerning whether such member has suffered a financial
hardship, or the amount to be distributed in relief thereof.

                                    SECTION 7
                                 DEATH BENEFITS

     7.1 Upon a Participant's death, any remaining balance of a Participant's
vested Make-Whole Account and vested Supplemental Account shall be paid to the
Participant's beneficiary as a death benefit. The Executive Benefits Committee
will provide each Participant with a form to be completed and filed with the
Executive Benefits Committee whereby the Participant may designate a
beneficiary.

     7.2 If the Participant does not designate a beneficiary, or if the
beneficiary who is designated should predecease the Participant, the death
benefit for a deceased Participant shall be paid to the estate of the
Participant, as the Participant's beneficiary, in a single cash payment.

     7.3 If a Participant should die while still employed by the Company or
otherwise before payment of any Plan benefits has commenced, payments of any
death benefit shall be made to the Participant's beneficiary in the same benefit
payment form elected by the Participant under Section 6.2, unless the
beneficiary is the estate and in that case, a single cash payment shall be made.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the death benefit is less than $25,000, the
death benefit shall be paid to the Participant's beneficiary in a single cash
payment.

     7.4 If a Participant should die after payment of Plan benefits has
commenced, payment of any death benefit will be made to the Participant
beneficiary as a continuation of the benefit payment form that had been in
effect for the Participant, unless the beneficiary is the estate and in that
case, a single cash payment shall be made.

     7.5 If an Employee who was an active participant in the Supplemental
Security Plan on December 31, 1996, should die while still employed by the
Company, the portion of the death benefit attributable to the Employee's
Supplemental Account shall not be less than the amount determined by multiplying
two point five (2.5) times the annualized base rate of pay of the Employee on
the date of death.

                                    SECTION 8
                            AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     The Compensation Committee retains the sole and unilateral right to
terminate, amend, modify or supplement this Plan, in whole or in part, at any
time. The Compensation Committee may delegate the right to amend the Plan,
subject to any limitations it may impose, to an officer of the Company. No such
action shall adversely affect a Participant's right to receive amounts then
credited to a Participant's account with respect to events occurring prior to
the date of such amendment.

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     In the event of a Change in Control, the Plan shall become irrevocable and
may not be amended or terminated without the written consent of each Plan
Participant who may be affected in any way by such amendment or termination
either at the time of such action or at any time thereafter. This restriction in
the event of a Change in Control shall be determined by reference to the date
any amendment or resolution terminating the Plan is actually signed by an
authorized party rather than the date such action purports to be effective.

                                    SECTION 9
                                 ADMINISTRATION

     9.1 The Company intends for the Plan to be an unfunded "top-hat" plan for a
select group of management or highly compensated employees which is exempt from
substantially all of the requirements of Title I of ERISA pursuant to Sections
201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. The Company is the Plan sponsor under
section 3(16)(B) of ERISA.

     9.2 The Executive Benefits Committee shall have the authority to control
and manage the operation and administration of the Plan except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Plan document. The Executive Benefits Committee may
designate other persons to carry out fiduciary responsibilities under the Plan.

     9.3 The Executive Benefits Committee is the administrator of the Plan
within the meaning section 3(16)(A) of ERISA. As administrator, the Executive
Benefits Committee has the authority (without limitation as to other authority)
to delegate its duties to agents and to make rules and regulations that it
believes are necessary or appropriate to carry out the Plan. The Executive
Benefits Committee has the discretion (i) to interpret and construe the terms
and provisions of the Plan (including any rules or regulations adopted under the
Plan), (ii) to determine questions of eligibility to participate in the Plan and
(iii) to make factual determinations in connection with any of the foregoing. A
decision of the Executive Benefits Committee with respect to any matter
pertaining to the Plan including without limitation the Employees determined to
be Participants, the benefits payable, and the construction or interpretation of
any provision thereof, shall be conclusive and binding upon all interested
persons. No Executive Benefits Committee member shall participate in any
decision of the Executive Benefits Committee that would directly and
specifically affect the timing or amount of his benefits under the Plan, except
to the extent that such decision applies to all Participants under the Plan.

                                   SECTION 10
                                CLAIMS PROCEDURE

     10.1 A person with an interest in the Plan shall have the right to file a
claim for benefits under the Plan and to appeal any denial of a claim for
benefits. Any request or application for a Plan benefit or to clarify the
claimant's rights to future benefits under the terms of the Plan shall be
considered to be a claim.

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     10.2 A claim for benefits will be considered as having been made when
submitted in writing by the claimant (or by such claimant's authorized
representative) to the Executive Benefits Committee. No particular form is
required for the claim, but the written claim must identify the name of the
claimant and describe generally the benefit to which the claimant believes he is
entitled. The claim may be delivered personally during normal business hours or
mailed to the Executive Benefits Committee.

     10.3 The Executive Benefits Committee will determine whether, or to what
extent, the claim may be allowed or denied under the terms of the Plan. If the
claim is wholly or partially denied, the claimant shall be so informed by
written notice within 90 days after the day the claim is submitted unless
special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If
such an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the
extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the termination of the
initial 90-day period. Such extension may not exceed an additional 90 days from
the end of the initial 90-day period. The extension notice shall indicate the
special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the
Plan expects to render the final decision. If notice of denial of a claim (in
whole or in part) is not furnished within the initial 90-day period after the
claim is submitted (or, if applicable, the extended 90-day period), the claimant
shall consider that his claim has been denied just as if he had received actual
notice of denial.

     10.4 The notice informing the claimant that his claim has been wholly or
partially denied shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the
claimant and shall include:

          (1)  The specific reason(s) for the denial.
          (2)  Specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the
               denial is based.
          (3)  A description of any additional material or information necessary
               for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why
               such material or information is necessary.
          (4)  Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the
               claimant wishes to submit his claim for review.

     10.5 If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claimant (or his
authorized representative) may file an appeal of the denied claim with the
Executive Benefits Committee requesting that the claim be reviewed. The
Executive Benefits Committee shall conduct a full and fair review of each
appealed claim and its denial. Unless the Executive Benefits Committee notifies
the claimant that due to the nature of the benefit and other attendant
circumstances he is entitled to a greater period of time within which to submit
his request for review of a denied claim, the claimant shall have 60 days after
he (or his authorized representative) receives written notice of denial of his
claim within which such request must be submitted to the Executive Benefits
Committee.

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     10.6 The request for review of a denied claim must be made in writing. In
connection with making such request, the claimant or his authorized
representative may:

          (1)  Review pertinent documents.
          (2)  Submit issues and comments in writing.

     10.7 The decision of the Executive Benefits Committee regarding the appeal
shall be promptly given to the claimant in writing and shall normally be given
no later than 60 days following the receipt of the request for review. However,
if special circumstances (for example, if the Executive Benefits Committee
decides to hold a hearing on the appeal) require a further extension of time for
processing, the decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but no later
than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. However, if the Executive
Benefits Committee holds regularly scheduled meetings at least quarterly, a
decision on review shall be made by no later than the date of the meeting which
immediately follows the Plan's receipt of a request for review, unless the
request is filed within 30 days preceding the date of such meeting. In such
case, a decision may be made by no later than the date of the second meeting
following the Plan's receipt of the request for review. If special circumstances
(for example, if the Executive Benefits Committee decides to hold a hearing on
the appeal) require a further extension of time for processing, the decision
shall be rendered as soon as possible, but no later than the third meeting
following the Plan's receipt of the request for review. If special circumstances
require that the decision will be made beyond the initial time for furnishing
the decision, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant
(or his authorized representative) prior to the commencement of the extension.
The decision on review shall be in writing and shall be furnished to the
claimant or to his authorized representative within the appropriate time for the
decision. If a decision on review is not furnished within the appropriate time,
the claim shall be deemed to have been denied on appeal.

     10.8 The Executive Benefits Committee may, in its sole discretion, decide
to hold a hearing if it determines that a hearing is necessary or appropriate in
order to make a full and fair review of the appealed claim.

     10.9 The decision on review shall include specific reasons for the
decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, as
well as specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the
decision is based.

     10.10 A person must exhaust his rights to file a claim and to request a
review of the denial of his claim before bringing any civil action to recover
benefits due to him under the terms of the Plan, to enforce his rights under the
terms of the Plan, or to clarify his rights to future benefits under the terms
of the Plan.

     10.11 The Executive Benefits Committee shall exercise its responsibility
and authority under this claims procedure as a fiduciary and, in such capacity,
shall have the discretionary authority and responsibility (1) to interpret and
construe the Plan and any rules or regulations under the Plan, (2) to determine
the eligibility of Employees to participate in the Plan, and the

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rights of Participants to receive benefits under the Plan, and (3) to make
factual determinations in connection with any of the foregoing.

                                   SECTION 11
                         NATURE OF COMPANY'S OBLIGATION

     11.1 The Company's obligation to the Participant under this Plan shall be
an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay. The rights of a Participant or
Beneficiary under this Plan shall be solely those of an unsecured general
creditor of the Company. The Company shall not be obligated under any
circumstances to set aside or hold assets to fund its financial obligations
under this Plan.

     11.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, in its sole discretion
establish such accounts, trusts, insurance policies or arrangements, or any
other mechanisms it deems necessary or appropriate to account for or fund its
obligations under the Plan. Any assets which the Company may set aside, acquire
or hold to help cover its financial liabilities under this Plan are and remain
general assets of the Company subject to the claims of its creditors. The
Company does not give, and the Plan does not give, any beneficial ownership
interest in any assets of the Company to a Participant or Beneficiary. All
rights of ownership in any assets are and remain in the Company. Any general
asset used or acquired by the Company in connection with the liabilities it has
assumed under this Plan shall not be deemed to be held under any trust for the
benefit of the Participant or any Beneficiary, and no general asset shall be
considered security for the performance of the obligations of the Company. Any
asset shall remain a general, unpledged, and unrestricted asset of the Company.

     11.3 The Company's liability for payment of benefits shall be determined
only under the provisions of this Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

                                   SECTION 12
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     12.1 Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to give any person the right to
remain in the employ of the Company or affect the right of the Company to
terminate any Participant's employment with or without cause.

     12.2 No right or benefit under the Plan shall be subject to anticipation,
alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge. Any attempt to
anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or charge these benefits
shall be void. No right or benefit under this Plan shall in any manner be liable
for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, or torts of the person
entitled to the benefit. If any Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan should
become bankrupt or attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge,
encumber or charge any right to a benefit hereunder, then the right or benefit,
in the discretion of the Executive Benefits Committee, shall cease. In these
circumstances, the Executive Benefits Committee may hold or apply the benefit
payment or payments, or any part of it,

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

for the benefit of the Participant or his Beneficiary, the Participant's spouse,
children, or other dependents, or any of them, in any manner and in any portion
that the Executive Benefits Committee may deem proper.

     12.3 Any amount required to be withheld under applicable Federal, state and
local tax laws (including any amounts required to be withheld under Section
3121(v) of the Code) will be withheld in such manner as the Executive Benefits
Committee will determine and any payment under the Plan will be reduced by the
amount so withheld, as well as by any other lawful withholding.

     12.4 This Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the
laws of the State of North Carolina to the extent that such laws are not
preempted by Federal law.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
     This Plan document has been executed on behalf of the Corporation this 4th
day of January, 1999.

                                   DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

                                   By:  /s/ CHRISTOPHER C. ROLFE
                                        --------------------------------------
                                   Its: Vice President
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        Corporate Human Resources

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

                             DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
                           EXECUTIVE CASH BALANCE PLAN
               (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1999)

                                   AMENDMENT 1

     Pursuant to Section 8 of the Duke Energy Corporation Executive Cash Balance
Plan, as amended ("Plan"), Duke Energy Corporation ("Corporation") hereby amends
Section 4.3 of the Plan, effective January 1, 1999, by adding a sentence to the
end thereof that reads as follows:

            Notwithstanding Sections 4.3 and 4.4 to the
            contrary, the Minimum Benefit feature of Section
            4.3(e) of the Plan, as in effect prior to January
            1, 1999, is preserved herein and incorporated by
            reference.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment to the Plan is executed on behalf of the
Corporation this 26th day of August, 1999.

                              DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

                         By:  /s/ CHRISTOPHER C. ROLFE
                              -------------------------------------------------

                         Its: Vice President
                              -------------------------------------------------
                              Corporate Human Resources<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                             DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
                      RETIREMENT BENEFIT EQUALIZATION PLAN

                           (effective January 1, 1999)

1. Purpose. Duke Energy Corporation ("Company") hereby establishes, effective
January 1, 1999, the Duke Energy Corporation Retirement Benefit Equalization
Plan ("Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to provide with respect to eligible
employees, benefits in excess of those provided under the Duke Energy Retirement
Cash Balance Plan, including plans merged therein, ("RCBP"). The Plan shall be
an "excess benefit plan", within the meaning of Section 3(36) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), that is unfunded.
The Plan supercedes the Duke Energy Corporation Executive Cash Balance Plan,
including plans superceded thereby, for participants who only participated in
the excess benefit plan part thereof, and the PanEnergy Corp Retirement Benefit
Equalization Plan for any eligible employee.

2. Administration. The Company's Director of Employee Benefits is designated the
Plan Administrator of the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall have full
discretionary power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, subject
to the provisions of the Plan and as to such matters as are reserved to the
Company, the Management Committee of its Board of Directors, and its Vice
President -- Human Resources. The Plan Administrator may adopt such procedures
as he deems necessary or helpful in administering the Plan and may designate one
or more employees of the Company to maintain the records of the Plan and to
perform such other duties as are assigned by the Plan Administrator.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator shall not act upon any
matter which relates solely to his individual participation in the Plan, but
shall refer such matter to the Vice President -- Human Resources of the Company.

3. Eligibility. Any participant in the RCBP whose benefit under the RCBP has not
commenced prior to January 1, 1999, shall be eligible to participate in the
Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no individual whose benefit commences
under, or who, on or after January 1, 1999, is eligible to participate in, the
Duke Energy Corporation

<PAGE>   2
Executive Cash Balance Plan, including plans superceded thereby, or whose
benefit commences under the PanEnergy Corp Retirement Benefit Equalization Plan
shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

4. Participating Affiliates. Each of the Company's affiliated companies that
participates in the RCBP on behalf of its eligible employees shall be a
participating affiliated company in the Plan and shall be liable to the Company
for Plan benefits attributable to the participating affiliated company's own
employees and the Plan Administrator's determination as to the amount of any
such liability shall be conclusive.

5. Company's Obligation. Any Plan benefit shall be a general, unsecured
obligation of the Company payable solely from the general assets of the Company,
and neither a Plan participant nor his beneficiary(ies) or estate shall have any
interest in any assets of the Company by virtue of the Plan. Nothing in this
Section 5 shall be construed to prevent the Company from implementing or setting
aside funds in a grantor trust subject to the claims of the Company's creditors.
This Section 5 shall not require the Company to set aside any funds, but the
Company may set aside such funds if it chooses to do so. The establishment of
the Plan and any setting aside of funds by the Company with which to discharge
its obligations under the Plan shall not be deemed to create a trust. Legal and
equitable title to any funds so set aside, other than any grantor trust subject
to the claims of the Company's creditors, shall remain in the Company and any
funds so set aside shall remain subject to the general creditors of the Company,
present and future, and no payment shall be made under this Plan unless the
Company is then solvent.

6. Benefit and Form of Payment. The Plan benefit payable with respect to a Plan
participant shall be the excess, if any, of:

          (a) the RCBP benefit which would have become payable with respect to
     the Plan participant, if the benefit accrual provisions of the RCBP were
     administered without regard to its provisions that implement the maximum

                                        2

<PAGE>   3

     amount of retirement income limitations imposed by Section 415 of the
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"); over

          (b) the RCBP benefit which, in fact, becomes payable, with respect to
     the Plan participant.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Plan benefit shall be payable with respect to
a Plan participant prior to the termination of the participant's employment with
the Company and all its affiliated companies and any Plan benefit that becomes
payable shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the corresponding
RCBP benefit, including, but not limited to, where the RCBP benefit becomes
payable on account of the Plan participant's death, the identification of the
eligible surviving spouse or other beneficiary to whom the Plan benefit is to
be paid.

     The Plan benefit shall be calculated at such time as the RCBP benefit
commences to be paid. In accordance with such procedures as the Plan
Administrator shall prescribe, the Plan benefit shall be calculated as a lump
sum amount and, thereafter, the amount of any unpaid Plan benefit shall be
credited with interest, at such rate, and in a manner substantially similar to,
that used to determine Interest Credits under the RCBP, for each full calendar
month unpaid. The Plan benefit shall be paid in five (5) annual installments,
with the initial installment to be paid as soon as administratively feasible
following the end of the calendar year during which the RCBP benefit commences
to be paid and any subsequent installment to be paid as soon as administratively
feasible following the end of the calendar year during which the
immediately-prior installment was paid. The amount of an installment shall be
equal to the then unpaid Plan benefit divided by the number of then remaining
installments (including the installment then being calculated). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the amount of any installment shall not be less than the lesser
of (i) $25,000.00, or (ii) the full then unpaid Plan benefit, and the number of
installments is subject to curtailment by application of such minimum. In the
event that any installment becomes payable to the estate of a deceased
individual, the full then unpaid Plan benefit shall be paid to such estate in a
lump sum.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
     In the event that a Plan benefit is payable with respect to a Plan
participant and if at such time the Plan participant has outstanding any debt,
obligation or other liability representing an amount owing to the Company or any
of its affiliated companies, then the Company may offset such amount owed by the
Plan participant against the Plan benefit to be paid.

     To the extent required by applicable law, the Company shall make
appropriate withholdings from the Plan benefit payments.

7. Amendment and Termination. The Company by written instrument, authorized by
action of the Management Committee of its Board of Directors, may amend or
terminate the Plan in any manner and at any time, provided, that no such change
shall apply to any Plan benefit accrued, whether or not payable, on account of
the corresponding RCBP benefit having accrued, prior to the date written notice
of the change has been provided to the respective Plan participant and that no
such change shall adversely affect such Plan benefit becoming payable and being
paid.

8. Nonassignability. Neither a Plan participant nor any other person shall have
any right to commute, sell, assign, pledge, anticipate, mortgage or otherwise
encumber, transfer, hypothecate or convey in advance of actual receipt the
amounts, if any, payable under the Plan, or any part thereof, which are, and all
rights to which are, expressly declared to be unassignable and nontransferable.
No Plan benefit payable shall, prior to actual Plan benefit payment, be subject
to seizure or sequestration for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony or
separate maintenance owed by a Plan participant or any other person, nor be
transferable by operation of law in the event of the Plan participant's or any
other person's bankruptcy or insolvency.

9. Employment Not Guaranteed. Nothing contained in this Plan nor any action
taken hereunder shall be construed as a contract of employment or as giving any
employee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any of its
affiliated companies.

                                        4
<PAGE>   5

10. Procedures for Claims for Benefits and for Review of Denied Claim. Any claim
for Plan benefits must be in writing and directed to the Plan Administrator and
must be made no later than ninety (90) days after the Plan benefit is claimed to
have become payable on account of a Plan eligible employee's termination of
employment. If a claimant has made a claim for Plan benefits and any portion of
the claim is denied, the claimant will receive a written notice from the Plan
Administrator. The notice will state the specific reasons for the denial and
specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions upon which the denial was based.
Also, it will give a description of any additional information or material
necessary to complete your claim and an explanation of why such information or
material is necessary. Finally, the notice will provide appropriate information
on the steps to take if the claimant wishes to submit the claim for review.

     A claim will be deemed denied if the claimant does not receive notification
within 90 days after the Plan Administrator's receipt of the claim, plus any
extension of time for processing the claim, not to exceed 90 additional days, as
special circumstances require. Prior to the expiration of the initial 90 days,
the claimant must be given a written notice that an extension is necessary, and
the claimant must be informed of the special circumstances requiring the
extension and date by which the claimant can expect a decision regarding the
claim.

     Within 60 days after the date of written notice denying any benefits or the
date the claim is deemed denied, the claimant or the claimant's authorized
representative may write to the Plan Administrator requesting a review of that
decision. The request for review must contain an explanation of why the claimant
believes the decision regarding the claim is incorrect, and must include such
issues, comments, documents and other evidence the claimant wishes considered in
the review. The claimant may also review pertinent documents in the Plan
Administrator's possession. The Plan Administrator will make a final
determination with respect to the request for review as soon as practicable. The
Plan Administrator will advise the claimant of the determination in writing and
will

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

set forth the specific reasons for the determination and the specific references
to any pertinent Plan provision upon which the determination is based.

     A request will be deemed denied on review if the Plan Administrator fails
to give the claimant a written notice of final determination within 60 days
after receipt of the request for review, plus any extension of time for
completing the review, not to exceed 60 additional days, as special
circumstances require. Prior to the expiration of the initial 60 days, the Plan
Administrator must advise the claimant in writing if any extension is necessary,
stating the special circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which
the claimant can expect a decision regarding the review of the claim.

11. Successors, Mergers or Consolidation. The Plan shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon: (i) the Company, and its successors and assigns, including
without limitation, any person, organization or corporation which may acquire
all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company, or any
corporation into which the Company may be merged or consolidated; and (ii) Plan
participants and their heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives.

12. Construction. The Plan shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the State of North Carolina.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Duke Energy Corporation has caused its duly authorized
officer to execute this document on its behalf, this 22nd day of December 1999.

                              DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

                              By:  /s/ CHRISTOPHER C. ROLFE
                                   -----------------------------------------
                              Its: Vice President
                                   -----------------------------------------
                                   Corporate Human Resources

                                       6

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