Rep. Rader, Members of House Energy Committee Urge PUCO to Reject FirstEnergy Request to Weaken Power Reliability Standards

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) and David Thomas (R-Jefferson), along with 17 members of the House Energy Committee, today sent a letter to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to prioritize Ohioans and reject FirstEnergy’s request to weaken the state’s reliability standards to allow for longer and more frequent power outages.   

“FirstEnergy is asking for permission to fail. They want weaker reliability rules so they can keep blacking out neighborhoods without consequences, while families lose food, miss work, and sit in the dark,” said Rep. Rader. “Ohio deserves a grid that works, not a utility that dodges accountability.” 

This letter responds to Case No. 24-1112-EL-ESS, in which FirstEnergy requests reduced expectations for reliability for subsidiary companies Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison, and Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. to increase the number of outages allowed in a year and have additional time to restore service after an outage. Lawmakers note that these outages can have major economic and public safety impacts and easing regulations would hurt families who have already been footing the bill grid modernization.  

Coming off the heels of the passage of House Bill 15, Ohio lawmakers have made it very clear that reliability is a non-partisan priority and that Ohioans should not have to suffer due to the lack of investment by the energy provider.   

“Now is not the time to lower reliability standards. We should continue to move in the right direction of reliability and service for the taxpayers who have already paid to make the grid more reliable,” said Rep. Thomas.  

The letter from lawmakers urges the PUCO to protect Ohioans by maintaining high standards for electric service providers and standing firm against FirstEnergy.  

EDITOR’S NOTE: A copy of the letter sent to PUCO is attached to this release.