SCEcorp, the parent company of Southern California...

SCEcorp, the parent company of Southern California Edison, would need prior approval from the state Public Utilities Commission before attempting a hostile takeover of San Diego Gas & Electric, according to Michael Day, deputy general counsel for the PUC. SDG&E;’s directors Thursday unanimously rejected SCE’s $2.16-billion stock-swap merger bid for SDG&E;, but industry analysts believe that SCE will continue trying to snare SDG&E.; “A utility can’t acquire or merge with another regulated utility without authorization from the commission,” Day said. “Any such attempt to take over another utility without our permission would be void.”