Chicago-based Exelon proposed to acquire Washington, D.C.-based Pepco Holdings on April 30, 2014. The $6.8 billion merger, already approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Pepco stockholders, and several affected states, awaits approval from Maryland’s Public Service Commission (PSC). Approving the merger would bode well for Maryland’s energy consumers as well as the state’s economy, and be a welcome shift from bad business and bad energy policy in Maryland.

Special interests and unfounded concerns have hijacked the proposed merger discussion in what should be a routine business decision that undergoes the appropriate regulatory review. Maryland’s PSC should recognize the broad economic benefits and strengthening of Maryland’s electricity network the acquisition would generate, and approve the merger.

Chicago-based Exelon proposed to acquire Washington, D.C.-based Pepco Holdings on April 30, 2014. The $6.8 billion merger, already approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Pepco stockholders, and several affected states, awaits approval from Maryland’s Public Service Commission (PSC). Approving the merger would bode well for Maryland’s energy consumers as well as the state’s economy, and be a welcome shift from bad business and bad energy policy in Maryland.

Special interests and unfounded concerns have hijacked the proposed merger discussion in what should be a routine business decision that undergoes the appropriate regulatory review. Maryland’s PSC should recognize the broad economic benefits and strengthening of Maryland’s electricity network the acquisition would generate, and approve the merger.