Rhode Island’s Providence Energy Corp. shareholders votedoverwhelmingly last week to approve a proposed merger with Austin’sSouthern Union Co. First announced last November, the proposedmerger is on track for regulatory approval by late this summer.ProvEnergy shareholders would be paid $42.50 per share with themerger.

Southern Union received approval from Pennsylvania regulatorstwo weeks ago concerning its pending mergers with ProvEnergy andtwo other Northeast utilities, Massachusetts’ Fall River Gas andRhode Island’s Valley Resources. Other governmental reviews arepending Once completed, the growing utility would serve nearly 1.6million gas and electric customers in six states.

Carolyn Davis, Houston

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