Power company Duke Energy says its fourth-quarter profit edged higher as cost cuts offset continued weak demand for electricity.

Duke said Friday that it made $346 million, or 26 cents per share, for the quarter ended Dec. 31 compared with profit of $331 million, or 26 cents per share, in the year ago-quarter. Revenue was flat at $3.1 billion.

Duke, based in Charlotte, N.C., said demand for electricity from industrial customers declined by less than 5 percent — another sign that the economy is beginning to stabilize.