Former FirstEnergy executives, PUCO chairman indicted in HB6 scandal
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two former FirstEnergy executives and the former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio chairman have been indicted on 27 felony violations.
Two former Akron-based FirstEnergy executives, ex-CEO Chuck Jones and ex-senior vice president of external affairs Michael Dowling, and ex-Public Utilities Commission of Ohio chairman Sam Randazzo were indicted for their alleged role in the House Bill 6 scandal, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday morning. This is the second indictment Randazzo was named in.
"There can be no justice without holding the checkwriters and the masterminds accountable," Yost said.
About one year ago, the corruption trial began against former speaker of the Ohio House Larry Householder, which ultimately landed him in prison for 20 years.
Householder was convicted on federal racketeering charges for accepting a $60 million bribe from Akron-based FirstEnergy to pass House Bill 6, which was signed into law in 2019. Since then, parts of the legislation directly related to the scandal have been repealed, but other portions that are costing energy ratepayers still stand.
Jones and Dowling were identified as the two senior executives who “devised and orchestrated FirstEnergy’s payments to public officials,” according to an affidavit filed in federal court.
HB6, in part, gave two Ohio Valley Electric Corporation coal plants a consistent stream of revenue, from Ohioans. The law, which is still on the books, guarantees a constant stream of revenue and caps the amount of money electric companies can charge ratepayers for the subsidies.
There were two coal plants benefiting from the money, one in Ohio and one in Indiana. The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel tracks the amount Ohioans have paid since January 2020; it is more than $225 million to date. The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association estimates that amount will grow to $850 million by 2030 if the law is not repealed.
The energy scandal has divided members of the Ohio Republican party; some think the law should stand, and others are calling for a repeal.