The office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel released consulting contracts between
As part of a deferred prosecution agreement made public a week ago, FirstEnergy said it paid Randazzo
Randazzo “would perform official action in his capacity” as chair of the
The statement said FirstEnergy “had no legal obligation to make the payment.”
To avoid criminal prosecution on a federal conspiracy charge, FirstEnergy has agreed to pay
The office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel sought copies of the consulting contracts as part of information requests and subpoenas submitted to FirstEnergy after then-
“Our consumer protection investigation continues into any harms electric consumers suffered from the House Bill 6 scandal involving FirstEnergy,"
FirstEnergy spokesperson
Randazzo denied wrongdoing in a statement released by his attorney last week. He has not been criminally charged.
“I executed my duties as PUCO chair conscientiously, lawfully, and mindful of striking the right balance between competing interests," Randazzo said. "At no time prior to or after my appointment to the PUCO was I asked or did I agree to exercise authority as a public official or perform any official action in my capacity as chair to further FirstEnergy’s legislative, regulatory or other interests.”
FirstEnergy made the payments to
The
Randazzo resigned as utilities commission chair in November after FBI agents searched his
Randazzo met with FirstEnergy “Executive 1” and “Executive 2” on
It has not been disputed that Executive 1 is
During the meeting, the three men “discussed the remaining payments under the consulting agreement” and Randazzo's utilities commission candidacy, according to the statement of facts.
FirstEnergy executives then pushed for Randazzo's candidacy as commission chair, a position which would give Randazzo broad powers in regulating
“I knew he worked for FirstEnergy. What I knew was the relationship was over with, that would have been the important thing to me," DeWine told reporters a week ago, the day the deferred prosecution agreement was announced.
The statement of facts said Randazzo, along with FirstEnergy officials, helped write the 2019 bill that provided two
The company had announced in
Meanwhile, FirstEnergy was looking to avoid having to file a case to reset its rates in 2024 with the utilities commission, something
In
Later that month, the utilities commission came through, concluding in an order that “we find that is no longer necessary or appropriate” for FirstEnergy's three
In January, with Randazzo no longer at the commission, FirstEnergy was ordered to file a rate case in 2024.
This story was first published
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