RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina officials expect to lay out a schedule for their consideration of Duke Energy Corp.'s proposed takeover of Progress Energy Inc.
A North Carolina Utilities Commission spokesman says the agency will release a preliminary schedule Monday or Tuesday.
The $13.7 billion deal would create the nation's largest electric utility and service 7 million customers in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
The deal received approval from federal regulators Friday after more than a year of considering competition concerns. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission twice rejected the merger because of concerns it would reduce competition for wholesale electricity in the Carolinas.
The deal still needs North Carolina's blessing, as well as approval from the Public Service Commission of South Carolina. The companies want to close by July 1.
