Documents: Randazzo Was Working for FirstEnergy

This week, Cleveland.com reported on the release of new documents that show Sam Randazzo — the longtime utilities lawyer and former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) — six years ago received “a huge personal windfall from FirstEnergy in exchange for what the company has said was his agreement to change sides on a key state regulatory move” to effectively bail out less profitable power plants by imposing extra charges on ratepayers.

According to The Plain Dealer, FirstEnergy more than quadrupled Randazzo’s contract in 2015 — increasing it from $2.5 million to $11.2 million.

Last month, FirstEnergy admitted attempting to bribe Randazzo, who has not been charged and has denied any wrongdoing. Stay tuned for further developments. 8/5/2021