That plan could set a pattern for agreements with the state's other large utilities.

It is the first time in the country that a large utility has committed itself to freezing rates for more than three years.

Indeed, about 106 of the 166 large utilities under the agency's jurisdiction have already taken steps to open their transmission systems.

The Bush administration, however, has expressed renewed interest in pursuing the technology, as have some large utilities.

The merger will create the nation's largest utility, with $17 billion in assets and 4.8 million customers.

The merger would have created the nation's largest utility, with 4.8 million customers.

The authority is the largest public utility in the country.

The deal would create the nation's largest electric utility.

Such a merger would create the nation's largest utility, with 4.7 million customers and $6.7 billion in revenue.

In recent years, the company has come under increasing pressure to make a major acquisition or merge with another large utility.