July 11, 2019
By Pat Mirada
On June 19, in a decision favorable to Ohio consumers, the Ohio Supreme Court reversed a PUCO (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio) order allowing FirstEnergy to collect between $168 million and $204 million yearly from its ratepayers. During the period of 2017-18 FirstEnergy received a total of $440 million from customers, according to a state consumer advocate.
The court made the decision based on the fact that PUCO made no requirement for the money to be used for grid modernization, though this was the PUCO’s stated purpose. The money FirstEnergy has collected is not refundable.
FirstEnergy has previously filed for a 2-year extension for this bailout. The PUCO could keep the money flowing from ratepayer pockets by passing a new bailout rider requiring FirstEnergy to use the money for grid modernization.
