FirstEnergy said it bribed a regulator for $4.3 million. Here’s how it worked. Decoupling, demystified Davis Bees Nuclear Power Station with electricity pylons, Ohio. Getty images. FirstEnergy admitted in court documents last week it paid the state’s top utility regulator $4.3 million to use his perch to save the company hundreds of millions via friendly administrative rulings. The company’s allegation against Sam Randazzo, former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, came in a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office. FirstEnergy agreed to pay a $230 million criminal penalty and admit to a lengthy statement of facts about its conduct. If FirstEnergy meets the terms of the agreement and cooperates with prosecutors, then a charge of honest services wire fraud against the company is dropped.