COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today granted a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio to stay its four ongoing investigations related to FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities and the passage of Amended Substitute House Bill 6.
In today’s entry, the Commission stated, “Throughout our four investigations, the Commission has sought to balance two principles: one, the Commission will follow the facts wherever they lead; and two, it is of the utmost importance that the Commission’s investigations do not interfere with the DOJ’s ongoing criminal investigation, or the parallel civil action instituted by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.”
“As a former judge, I presided over both criminal and civil cases, and I am sensitive to the very real concerns of the Department of Justice regarding possible interference with their ongoing criminal investigation,” stated PUCO Chair Jenifer French.
On August 16, 2022, the U.S. Attorney requested that the Commission stay these matters for a period of six months, citing its concern that continued discovery in the Commission’s four investigations may directly interfere with or impede the United States’ ongoing investigation into corruption relating to Am. Sub. H.B. 6.