OREANDA-NEWS. Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) and Pepco Holdings Inc. (NYSE: POM) today announced that the two companies have completed their merger transaction, effective today. The announcement follows the approval of the merger by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DC PSC) earlier today.

The merger brings together Exelon's three electric and gas utilities — BGE, ComEd and PECO — and Pepco Holdings' three electric and gas utilities — Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and Pepco — to create the leading mid-Atlantic electric and gas utility company.

Chris Crane retains his current position as president and CEO of Exelon. Joseph M. Rigby, previously chairman, president and CEO of Pepco Holdings, retires as an officer of Pepco Holdings. David M. Velazquez has assumed the role of president and CEO of Pepco Holdings.

"Today, we join together as one company to play a vital role as a leader in our industry and the mid-Atlantic region," Crane said. "We've made a number of commitments to customers in all of the Pepco Holdings utilities' jurisdictions — the District, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey — and we look forward to getting to work to deliver those benefits to our customers and communities."

Exelon will provide a package of direct benefits -- including bill credits, reliability improvements and other investments -- worth more than $430 million for customers and communities in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and New Jersey under the commitments made in those jurisdictions.

In its order approving the merger today, the DC PSC included conditions previously outlined in its Feb. 26 order and certain new conditions, which the companies accepted.

"Our combined companies will bring meaningful economic and service benefits to Pepco, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric customers," Rigby said.

Velazquez added, "In addition to firm reliability commitments, the merger provides benefits to our customers and continues and expands our role as a partner in the communities we serve. This new era will bring a new level of service excellence and economic and environmental benefits to our customers, while maintaining our leadership and partnerships in our local communities."

The Pepco Holdings companies have joined the Exelon family of companies, and integration efforts are well underway.

Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and Pepco will remain as separate companies and retain their local headquarters in Mays Landing, N.J., Newark, Del., and Washington, D.C., respectively. Together with Exelon's other three utilities, they serve approximately 10 million customers across six jurisdictions.

"We remain focused on operational excellence, environmental sustainability, customer service and support for the communities we serve," Crane said. "We now have a larger, more diverse team with more knowledge and best practices to share, and we will leverage our combined strengths and talents to deliver world-class performance for customers."

The transaction was approved by Pepco Holdings' shareholders, and regulatory approvals have been issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the Delaware Public Service Commission, the Maryland Public Service Commission, and the Virginia State Corporation Commission, in addition to the DC PSC.
 
As a result of the closing of the merger, trading of Pepco Holdings' common stock on the New York Stock Exchange will be suspended effective March 24, 2016, and these shares will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Pepco Holdings stockholders will receive $27.25 per share.