HARRISBURG — FirstEnergy's acquisition of rival power company Allegheny Energy can go ahead in Pennsylvania.

The state Public Utility Commission voted Thursday to approve the union, which means that four electric utilities in Pennsylvania have the same parent company.

Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy announced last year that it was buying Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny. The companies say this was the final regulatory approval needed to close the transaction, after federal regulators, as well as regulators in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, approved it.

WASHINGTON — Toyota Motor Corp. recalled 2.17 million vehicles in the United States on Thursday to address accelerator pedals that could become entrapped in floor mats or jammed in driver’s side carpeting.The Japanese automaker said it would add three models to the 2009 pedal entrapment recall: about 600,000 4Runner SUVs from the 2003-2009 model years; 761,000 RAV4 compact SUVs from the 2006-2010 model years; and 17,000 Lexus LX 570s from the 2008-2011 model years.The recall also includes 372,000 RX 330, RX 350 and RX 400H vehicles from the 2004 through early 2007 model years and 397,000 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander SUVs and hybrid versions to replace floor carpet covering and retention clips on the driver’s side that could interfere with the accelerator pedal arm.