Three representatives from Wisconsin's electric industry have asked Wisconsin commissioner Scott A. Neitzel to give highest priority to investigating the proposed $6-billion merger of Wisconsin Energy Corp. and Northern States Power Co. to create the nation's 10th-largest electric utility, Primergy Corp. In a letter, executives from Madison Gas & Electric Co., Wisconsin Public Power Inc. System, and Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin urged the Public Service Commission (PSC) to suspend hearings on deregulation until more is known about the merger and its impact on industry restructuring. The letter claims that locating the corporate giant outside the state will cause numerous potential negative impacts for Wisconsin ratepayers: "We simply do not know what this means for Wisconsin's electric utility industry and what, if any, protections will exist to prevent market abuses and monopolistic power."
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