FirstEnergy Audit Expanded By Ohio Utilities Commission

OHIO — A sweeping audit of FirstEnergy's business practices will be expanded, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) announced.

The audit will now include an a "side deal" that was not disclosed during a 2015 proceeding, the commission said. The side deal saw FirstEnergy strike an agreement with an industrial energy group that had opposed the company's ongoing electric security plan, according to the commission.

“Today’s action is just one example of our responsibility to follow the facts wherever they may lead and to investigate matters that are within our jurisdiction over utility rates and service. This commitment holds true in this case as well as in the three additional investigations opened by the Commission,” said PUCO Chair Jenifer French.

FirstEnergy has already been ordered to refund Ohioans $306 million through their subsidiaries Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison.

FirstEnergy has been embroiled in a statewide scandal since federal investigators announced they were looking into the passing of House Bill 6, a $1.3 billion nuclear bailout which benefited two FirstEnergy plants. The company signed a deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to pay $230 million to the state and federal government and admitted wrongdoing in the case, prosecutors announced.

PUCO now has four separate, active investigations into FirstEnergy, mostly stemming from House Bill 6, the commission said. PUCO is splitting its investigation into FirstEnergy so that it can continue to look into this "side deal," the commission said.

“Our decision to bifurcate and stay this issue and portion of the proceeding ensures that our investigations will not interfere with the criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney, or the action brought by the Ohio Attorney General," French added.