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Maryland approves Washington Gas acquisition. Here’s what’s required

WASHINGTON — Washington Gas parent company WGL Holdings is one step closer to being acquired by a Canadian utility, with approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission, which has laid out requirements for the utilities to get its approval.

Calgary, Alberta-based AltaGas, agreed to acquire WGL in January 2017 for $4.5 billion.

The two companies have until April 16 to review the Maryland PSC’s approval conditions, which include a one-time $50 credit for Maryland residential heating customers, $22.8 million to Montgomery and Prince George’s counties for customer, education, workforce development and energy efficiency programs, and $100 million to expand natural gas infrastructure in the state of Maryland.

It will also require the companies to develop new renewable energy resources and AltaGas is required to move its U.S. power business headquarters to Prince George’s County.

The merger still needs approval from the D.C. Public Service Commission. That decision is expected in mid-2018.

It has already been approved by shareholders of both companies, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

Once approved, WGL Holdings would continue to operate as a stand-alone utility headquartered in D.C.

WGL Holdings has about 1,500 employees in Washington and about 1.1 million customers in the D.C. region.

AltaGas runs power plants across North America and owns two other U.S. gas utilities — Michigan gas utility Semco Energy Gas Co., and Alaska gas utility Enstar Natural Gas Co.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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