Southern Company and AGL Resources have received unanimous regulatory approval of the companies' proposed merger from the Illinois Commerce Commission, with all intervening parties in support of the previously announced settlement agreements.

AGL Resources is the parent company of Nicor Gas, which provides approximately 2.2 million customers with natural gas services in northern Illinois.

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;

• Operations of nearly 200,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines;

• More than 80,000 miles of gas pipelines; and

• Approximately 44,000 megawatts of electricity generating capacity.

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