Says AGL (GAS) acquisition better positions Southern Company (SO) to succeed in future with increasing gas prices. Says now is the right time for this transaction. Expects natural gas use in the U.S. will increase. Sees natural gas use to rise as much as 2.2 BCF per day by 2020. AGL Resources planning $5B in capital spending over the next five years. Southern Co. sees equity sales beginning later this year. Comments taken from companies’ conference call discussing the transaction. In morning trading, Southern Company shares were down 2.88% to $44.48 and AGL Resources shares were up 27.14% to $60.85.