Progress has been made in the proposed merger between Southern Company and AGL Resources after the expiration of the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Actwaiting period on Monday.
The law requires companies to ensure that any merger or other transaction activity does not violate current antitrust and monopoly laws.
Currently, the merger awaits state regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Southern Company said the merger is expected to be completed in the second half of 2016. Should the merger be approved, the combined companies would own 11 electricity and natural gas distributors and operate approximately 46,000 megawatts of electrical-generation capacity.
The merged operations also would include approximately 80,000 miles of natural gas pipelines and approximately 200,000 miles of electrical lines. Together, the merged companies would provide services to approximately 9 million customers.
AGL Resources specializes in the distribution, retail sale and wholesale services relating to natural gas and serves approximately 4.5 million utility customers in seven states.
Southern Company owns and operates several electrical-generation plants that utilize nuclear energy, renewable energy and fossil fuel-burning plants. The company also serves approximately 4.5 million customers.
