A Maryland judge upheld state regulators' approval of Exelon’s acquisition of Pepco, denying an appeal led by the Office of People’s Counsel.

Md. PSC staff said Exelon should increase its proposed credit to customers as a condition of approval of the company's merger with Pepco, while the OPC said the commission should reject the deal.

Exelon’s proposed $6.8 billion acquisition of Pepco Holdings Inc. should clear federal regulatory hurdles easily but may face a tougher time convincing state regulators.

The winter’s high prices for gas and power have busted budgets and left state regulators and consumer advocates scrambling for answers. FERC says it has seen no evidence of market manipulation.

PJM is considering boosting its capacity payments to nuclear plants and others with firm winter fuel supplies, the RTO told a FERC technical conference Tuesday.

Flat load growth and new technologies are challenges but not mortal threats to utilities, NARUC panelists said.

Maryland and CPV officials aren’t saying what their next move is in the wake of a federal court ruling that voided the state’s contract with developers of a 725 MW combined cycle plant in St. Charles.