Read every word: Monday's mini-hearing on utility merger a non-event

Monday's hearing in the proposed merger between Progress Energy and Duke Energy lasted less than an hour and takes up all of 74 pages.

The N.C. Utilities Commission, which strictly limited the scope of the hearing, issued the transcript Tuesday afternoon. The actual questioning by the sole remaining opponent to the merger, N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, took about a half-hour, the rest of the time being devoted to procedural matters.

It was clear from the brief hearing that the N.C. Commission plans to rule quickly, potentially this week. The N.C. Commission on Tuesday afternoon gave parties until Thursday to make last-minute filings, signaling again that the ruling could be imminent.

Raleigh-based Progress and Charlotte-based Duke plan to form the nation's largest electric utility and hope to get the deal done by July 8. Their merger was approved conditionally this month by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.