Rep. Rader Reacts to the Auditor of State's Performance Review of the PUCO

COLUMBUS — Representative Tristan Rader (D–Lakewood) has released the following statement on the recently released performance audit of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that sought to examine how the agency manages their resources and responsibilities.

“The corruption scandal surrounding former PUCO Chair Sam Randazzo, HB 6, and subsequent legal actions, severely damaged public trust in the Commission. Under Chair Jenifer French and the current leadership, we have seen a meaningful change in the right direction. Progress deserves recognition, but this report makes clear there is still work ahead.

I am personally pleased with the thoughtful, firm approach PUCO has taken to hold FirstEnergy accountable for reliability failures affecting families in Lakewood and Cleveland. Its investigation, proposed penalties, and corrective actions following Lakewood’s repeated outages show that its staff is working hard to create change. We must continue to not bend to these corporations and prioritize our communities, not profits. Families deserve to see those efforts translate into reliable service and I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that this is achieved.

One finding calls for specific action from the General Assembly: Ohio’s outdated maximum penalties for gas-pipeline safety violations. PUCO cannot raise limits that lawmakers have written into statute. That responsibility belongs to us. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the General Assembly to strengthen PUCO’s authority to impose meaningful penalties and pursue automatic updates tied to federal standards, as the audit recommends. Ohio currently meets the minimum requirements, but we should act before outdated limits threaten our enforcement authority or federal support for pipeline-safety oversight.

Rebuilding trust requires sustained accountability. It also requires the legislature to give regulators the tools they need to protect Ohio families. In her response to the audit, Chair French acknowledges ongoing efforts to formalize PUCO’s strategic plan, improve staffing information, and strengthen reserve policies. Those are welcome steps toward a more accountable agency, and I look forward to seeing that work completed.”