Smith Applauds PUCO Order Against FirstEnergy

Today, state Senator Kent Smith (D–Euclid) praised the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s (PUCO) decision to deny FirstEnergy’s application to loosen reliability standards, ensuring that existing standards remain in place.

“Ohioans deserve safe and reliable electric service, and today’s order makes it clear that the PUCO is committed to holding utilities accountable to provide this service,” said Smith. “FirstEnergy ratepayers continue to make substantial investments in the electric grid, and those investments should provide for increased reliability. I commend the PUCO for listening to public and government input in rejecting FirstEnergy’s proposal.”

Following significant objection from ratepayers and elected officials, including the Ohio Senate Democrats, the PUCO ordered that FirstEnergy’s existing reliability standards approved in October 2024 must remain in place. The PUCO additionally cited recent grid modernization investments, which should strengthen reliability in their decision to keep existing standards.

This decision is especially important given recent reliability concerns in northeast Ohio. Just last year, the PUCO issued a letter of probable noncompliance to the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company for outages in Lakewood. 

“Recent outages show exactly why strong reliability standards are necessary,” said Smith. “Today’s decision holds First Energy accountable to provide the reliable electric service that Ohioans pay for and deserve.”

More information on the orders can be found on the PUCO’s website.