The proposed transaction seeks to forge the largest electricity producer in the United States, managing 10 million customer accounts across Florida, Virginia, and the Carolinas. By tightening internal controls, the utilities hope to satisfy the state's legal requirement that the deal will not compromise service quality or drive up consumer costs. This push comes as the industry grapples with surging demand for power, largely fueled by the rapid expansion of energy-hungry data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The companies maintain that their combination serves the public interest despite the skepticism of federal and state regulators monitoring grid reliability and consumer pricing.