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Ohio Ratepayers Spared From Paying Into $1B Nuclear Bailout
Law360 (December 22, 2020, 5:03 PM EST) An Ohio state court judge has ruled that ratepayers cannot be forced to pay into a $1.3 billion bailout fund for struggling nuclear power plants, which is at the center of a $60 million bribery probe involving utility company FirstEnergy.
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Chris Brown on Monday granted a preliminary injunction request from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the cities of Columbus and Cincinnati blocking the rate collection from taking effect as scheduled in the new year.
The court said ratepayers could potentially suffer irreparable harm if forced to foot the bill for the controversial bailout that provides.
Outgoing Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judi French, a Sebring native, is among the four finalists for a commissioner seat on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio while state Sen. Sean O’Brien and ex-state Rep. Michael Verich, who both applied for the job, failed to make the cut.
The 12-member PUCO nominating council Monday chose the final four for the commissioner job out of the 31 applicants.
Of the 31, eight, including O’Brien, were interviewed, but he was not among the four recommended.
Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has 30 days from Monday to appoint a commissioner from the four finalists or request a new list of four from the council. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Ohio Senate.
COLUMBUS – A Franklin County judge blocked fees on Ohioans electric bills for two nuclear plants as part of a $1 billion bailout that federal investigators say was crooked.
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Chris Brown issued a preliminary injunction Monday blocking the fees, set to begin in January under House Bill 6, after nearly two hours of legal arguments.
“To not impose an injunction would be to allow certain parties to prevail. It would give the OK that bribery is allowed in the state of Ohio and that any ill-gotten gains can be received. All you’ve got to do is find the right legislator, find the right speaker of the House, Brown said. It is in the public interest to avoid that sentiment throughout the state.
dskolnick@tribtoday.com
Outgoing Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judi French, a Sebring native, is among the four finalists for a commissioner seat on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio while state Sen. Sean O’Brien and ex-state Rep. Michael Verich, who both applied for the job, failed to make the cut.
The 12-member PUCO nominating council Monday chose the final four for the commissioner job out of the 31 applicants.
Of the 31, eight, including O’Brien, were interviewed, but he was not among the four recommended.
Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has 30 days from Monday to appoint a commissioner from the four finalists or request a new list of four from the council. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Ohio Senate.