FirstEnergy Seeks Approval for Worse Reliability in Ohio

The utility at the center of a $60 million bribery scandal now wants to provide customers with more frequent and longer power outages.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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FirstEnergy, the Ohio utility at the center of a major political bribery scandal, is now seeking approval from the state's Public Utility Commission to provide customers with worse reliability, including longer restoration times and more frequent power outages. This comes despite the company's history of unethical behavior and lack of transparency around the root causes of grid issues in its service area.

Why it matters

FirstEnergy's request raises concerns about the company's priorities and commitment to serving its customers, especially after its involvement in one of the largest political corruption cases in Ohio's history. Allowing the utility to further degrade reliability could disproportionately impact vulnerable communities already prone to more frequent outages.

The details

FirstEnergy is seeking approval from the Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to give customers worse service, including taking longer to restore power during outages and allowing slightly more frequent outages per customer each year. This comes despite the company's history of slow-walking clean energy and energy efficiency solutions that could improve grid resilience. Critics argue FirstEnergy has not provided enough transparency or a detailed understanding of the root causes behind reliability issues in its service area.

  • FirstEnergy was at the center of a $60 million bribery scandal in Ohio in 2020.
  • Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and several others were convicted and sentenced to prison for their roles in the scandal.
  • FirstEnergy was fined more than $250 million for its involvement in the scandal.
  • FirstEnergy is now seeking PUCO approval for its reliability request in 2026.

The players

FirstEnergy

An Ohio utility company that was at the heart of a major political bribery scandal in the state.

Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO)

The state regulatory agency that is considering FirstEnergy's request to provide customers with worse reliability.

Larry Householder

The former Ohio House Speaker who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the $60 million bribery scheme involving FirstEnergy.

Shay Banton

A regulatory program engineer and energy justice policy advocate who has reported on grid disparities in FirstEnergy's service territories that leave some areas more prone to outages.

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What they’re saying

“It feels too early for them to request leniency without proposing or implementing more comprehensive mitigations based on a detailed understanding of the root cause.”

— Shay Banton, Regulatory program engineer and energy justice policy advocate (Canary Media)

What’s next

The Public Utility Commission of Ohio will decide whether to approve FirstEnergy's request for worse reliability standards in the coming months.

The takeaway

FirstEnergy's request for leniency on reliability standards raises serious concerns given the company's history of unethical behavior and lack of transparency. Regulators should carefully scrutinize the utility's proposal and ensure any changes prioritize the needs of all customers, especially those in vulnerable communities.