A settlement to resolve the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's (PUCO) consumer investigations into FirstEnergy's misconduct related to the passage of House Bill 6 was signed Friday, according to a news release from the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC).

The agreement takes PUCO's November orders, which directed FirstEnergy to pay more than $250 million in customer restitution and civil forfeitures, a step further. The November orders stated that PUCO discovered that FirstEnergy's Ohio utilities -- including The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison -- violated Ohio law, as well as PUCO regulations and prior orders.

The release states that if the settlement is approved by the Commission, it will replace the November orders and deliver $276 million in consumer restitution, including $20 million toward helping low-income Ohioans with utility bill payments, weatherization and energy-efficiency improvements.

"Consumers should not have to pay the price for corporate misconduct," Maureen Willis, agency director of the Office of the OCC, stated. 

PUCO's November orders piggybacked on OCC's concerns that FirstEnergy's Ohio utilities charged customers for "grid modernization projects" without providing evidence as to where the funds were spent. These orders demanded that FirstEnergy return $187 million to consumers over three billing cycles.

"This settlement puts money back where it belongs -- into Ohioans' pockets and homes -- and delivers real relief to families struggling with high energy costs," Willis stated.

The news release states that the settlement included signatures from:

  • The OCC
  • The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company
  • Ohio Edison
  • Toledo Edison
  • Ohio Manufacturers' Association Energy Group
  • The Ohio Energy Group
  • NE Ohio Public Energy Council
  • NW Ohio Aggregation Coalition
  • The Ohio Environmental Council
  • Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy
  • The Citizens' Utility Board of Ohio
  • The Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Interstates Gas Supply, LLC
  • Direct Energy Services
  • The Ohio Cable Telecommunications Association
  • The Retail Energy Supply Association