PUCO Expands Investigation Into FirstEnergy

This week, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) ordered its ongoing investigation of FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities be expanded to include an apparent non-disclosure of an agreement during a 2015 PUCO proceeding.

According to a news release, the PUCO discovered during its four ongoing investigations — related to House Bill 6 activity — that FirstEnergy “failed to disclose an apparent ‘side deal’ it entered in exchange for an industrial energy group dropping its opposition to the Ohio utilities’ then-ongoing electric security plan proceeding.”

As reported by Gongwer News Service, that deal was a 2015 amendment to FirstEnergy’s consulting agreement with Sustainability Funding Alliance, the firm solely owned by former PUCO Chair Sam Randazzo. While Randazzo has not been charged with a crime, FirstEnergy has admitted seeking to bribe him with millions of dollars to obtain favorable treatment. 12/15/2021