News briefs from the states within the PJM footprint. This week we include Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

In response to requests from several senators from both parties, the DoE’s Inspector General has begun an investigation into FERC’s Enforcement office.

FERC yesterday approved the $6.8 billion merger of Exelon and Pepco Holdings Inc., dismissing concerns from PJM stakeholders.

Exelon is selling its ownership interest in the Keystone and Conemaugh power plants in Pennsylvania.

The summer wasn’t hot enough, at least for most of the PJM utilities reporting third-quarter earnings so far. Companies lamented the lack of 90-degree days.

Exelon is joining with two other companies to build an emission-free natural gas-fired power plant using a new technology called the Allam Cycle.

Duke Energy and Exelon should be among the companies barred from acquiring any generation divested by PPL as part of its Talen Energy spinoff, the IMM told FERC.

Exelon, which last month announced it would spend $500 million to build two natural gas-fired plants in Texas, is selling two other gas plants.

Exelon Generation is adding another 2,000 MW of fossil generation to its fleet in Texas, which will bring the company’s total generation in ERCOT to nearly 6,000 MW.

News briefs on companies in the PJM Interconnection this week, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Exelon, Duke, PSE&G and Dominion.