American Electric Power (AEP) and Central and South West (CSW)said a recommendation from an Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC)administrative law judge creates a procedural hurdle, but “does notquestion the merits of the merger” of the companies and should notdelay its completion.

The ALJ on Oct. 1 said he would recommend to the commission thatthe current merger filing be dismissed for lack of informationregarding the potential impact on the retail electric market inOklahoma. The ALJ’s oral recommendation was in response to motionsfrom Oklahoma Gas and Electric, the Municipal Electric Systems ofOklahoma Inc., and the Oklahoma Association of ElectricCooperatives.

“We believe that our original filing in Oklahoma met allprocedural requirements,” said Mark Roberson, CSW vice presidentfor regulatory affairs. “We are interested in working with thevarious parties in the proceeding to address any perceiveddeficiencies in our original filing.”

A dismissal without prejudice would allow AEP and CSW to submitan amended application with the added information. An amendedfiling would reset Oklahoma’s 90-day statutory time period for OCCaction on the merger. AEP and CSW also have the option of appealingsuch a dismissal to the OCC on Oct. 20.

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