Southern Company and AGL Resources announced that an agreement has been reached that settles all contested issues in the New Jersey merger proceeding.

The merger is still subject to final approval by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Consequently, the only remaining regulatory approvals required to close the merger are the BPU’s and Illinois Commerce Commission’s approvals of the comprehensive settlements reached in those jurisdictions. The companies also confirmed that the merger remains on track for closing in the second half of 2016.

AGL Resources is the parent company of Elizabethtown Gas, a regulated utility providing natural gas distribution services to customers in New Jersey.

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.