The North Carolina Utilities Commission released a schedule Tuesday that lays out the timeline for input on the merger.

 

It is still unclear when state regulators will decide whether to permit or deny the move. The $13.7 billion merger would create the nation's largest electric utility and service 7 million customers in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

 

The merger cleared a major hurdle Friday when it received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

 

The deal still needs the blessing of the Public Service Commission of South Carolina whose commissioners are scheduled to review it Wednesday. The companies want to close the deal by July 1.