On July 6, FERC approved the Connecticut-based Northeast Utilities’, the largest electric utility in New England, proposed acquisition of NSTAR. Since the merger plan was announced in October, many state and local regulators have approved the plan, but approvals are still required from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Northeast Utilities' takeover of NSTAR would create one of the largest electric utilities in the country, and the companies hope to conclude the transaction in the second half of 2011.