Southern Company, AGL Resources Get Merger Approval

ATLANTA, GA -- Southern Company and AGL Resources have received unanimous regulatory approval of the companies' proposed merger from the Georgia Public Service Commission, with all intervening parties in support of the recently announced settlement agreement.

AGL Resources is the parent company of Atlanta Gas Light, a regulated utility providing natural gas distribution services to approximately 1,578,000 customers in Georgia.

When completed, the combination of Southern Company and AGL Resources would unite two Georgia-based energy leaders and 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.

Southern Company is already one of the largest consumers of natural gas in America, with that fuel accounting for nearly half of the electricity generated to serve customers' needs. Southern Company's full portfolio of energy resources also includes carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, one of America's largest renewable energy portfolios and energy efficiency.

A natural extension of the company's commitment to finding real solutions for America's energy future, Southern Company's pending acquisition of AGL Resources will help address one of the key challenges facing the energy industry – developing the infrastructure necessary to send low-priced natural gas to areas where it is increasingly needed.

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