Rep. Brennan Applauds HB 6-Related FirstEnergy Settlement Delivering $276 Million in Consumer Relief to Ohioans

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today applauded the settlement agreement reached between FirstEnergy, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), and a broad coalition of consumer advocates resolving the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s (PUCO) investigations into FirstEnergy’s misconduct related to House Bill (HB) 6.

The settlement resolves four consumer investigation cases and delivers $276 million in total relief for Ohio ratepayers, prioritizing direct refunds, bill credits, and targeted assistance for families most impacted by rising energy costs.

“This settlement is an important step toward accountability after one of the darkest chapters in Ohio’s public policy history,” said Rep. Brennan. “Ohio consumers were improperly charged, trust in our institutions was shaken, and it is absolutely right that ratepayers - not corporate shareholders - are the primary beneficiaries of this resolution.”

Under the agreement:

• Nearly $187 million in refunds will be returned to customers over three billing cycles beginning in January 2026. These refunds are tied largely to improper charges, including tripled damages and undocumented grid modernization costs.
• $64 million in civil penalties, originally payable to the state’s General Revenue Fund, will instead be converted into direct bill credits for consumers.
• $20 million in new low-income assistance programs will be created, including:
  
  • A two-year bill payment assistance program totaling $10 million; and
  • A three-year weatherization and energy efficiency program totaling $10 million.
    Priority will be given to families in Mahoning, Ashtabula, Lucas, Marion, and Cuyahoga Counties.
     

Rep. Brennan noted that the settlement builds on years of legislative work to dismantle the policies and practices tied to HB 6.

“I have worked relentlessly to undo the damage caused by HB 6 and to restore integrity to Ohio’s energy policy,” continued Rep. Brennan. “Last year, we finally ended the OVEC subsidies tied to that corrupt law. Today’s settlement is another critical step in putting Ohio consumers first and closing the book on HB 6 once and for all.”

The settlement replaces PUCO’s November 19, 2025 orders, which had required approximately $250 million in customer restitution and civil penalties after the Commission found that FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities violated state law, PUCO regulations, and prior Commission orders.

Rep. Brennan also commended the process that led to the agreement.

“This resolution reflects transparent, good-faith negotiations among consumer, environmental, and industry stakeholders,” added Rep. Brennan. “While no settlement can fully undo the harm caused, this outcome delivers real relief to Ohioans and reinforces the principle that utilities must be held accountable when they violate the law.”

“Going forward, the General Assembly must remain vigilant,” concluded Rep. Brennan. “We owe it to Ohioans to ensure stronger oversight, ethical guardrails, and consumer protections so this never happens again.”

For additional information, see the OCC’s original September 8, 2020 motions for investigation; the PUCO’s November 19, 2025 decisions; and related dockets 17-974, 17-2474, 20-1502, and 20-1629.