OREANDA-NEWS. Southern Company (NYSE: SO) and AGL Resources (NYSE: GAS) today  received unanimous regulatory approval of the companies’ proposed merger from  the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

AGL  Resources is the parent company of Virginia Natural Gas, a regulated utility  providing natural gas distribution services to approximately 290,000 customers  in southeastern Virginia, including the Hampton Roads region.

When  completed, the combination of Southern Company and AGL Resources is expected to  create the second-largest utility company in the U.S. by customer base, bringing  together:

     
  • Eleven regulated electric and natural gas  distribution companies providing service to approximately 9 million customers;
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  • Operations of nearly 200,000 miles of  electric transmission and distribution lines;
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  • More than 80,000 miles of gas pipelines; and
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  • Approximately 46,000 megawatts of electricity  generating capacity.

The companies expect to complete the  transaction in the second half of 2016.