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FirstEnergy’s transparency pledge clashes with ongoing actions

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The company’s broad view of its ongoing investigation for purposes of limiting public disclosures seems at odds with its narrow view and piecemeal approach to regulatory proceedings.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski

This article provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism in partnership with the nonprofit Energy News Network. Please join their free mailing list or the mailing list for the Energy New Network as this helps us provide more public service reporting.

Complete disclosures are still not forthcoming from FirstEnergy, Energy Harbor and others who may have played roles in an alleged conspiracy that funneled millions of dollars to former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder in order to elect lawmakers sympathetic to House Bill 6, pass the law and then prevent voters from having a chance to reject the law in a statewide referendum.

FirstEnergy President and CEO Steven Strah said at the company’s Feb. 18 earnings call that the company is now “deeply committed to creating a culture in which … our leaders prioritize and encourage open and transparent communications with all of our stakeholders.” Strah became acting CEO last October and was formally appointed to the position on March 8, replacing Chuck Jones, who was fired for violating “certain FirstEnergy policies and its code of conduct.”

Yet there continues to be a clash between that stated commitment and what the company has actually disclosed. In particular, the company still has not provided full details about its various contributions to dark money groups that funneled money to the Republican Governors Association, Generation Now, campaigns for Gov. Mike DeWine and his daughter, and others.

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Local United Way & NAACP Chapters seek community input on CPD Consent Decree

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Vancouver New Leaf Project Study Shows One-Time Direct Cash Transfers Positively Impact Homeless

James faced the challenges and frustrations of being homeless in Vancouver, Canada—including pandemic disruptions—but he has found housing and started a more permanent job.  A new study by the New Leaf Project found financial self determination opens up doors to positive opportunities from which individuals are empowered to choose (photo: Foundations for Social Change).

By Rich Weiss & Jeneane Vanderhoff

This story was sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Solutions Journalism Collaborative (NEOSOJO), which is composed of 20-plus Northeast Ohio news outlets including The West Park Times, The Cleveland Street Chronicle, and The Tremonster, each of which contributed significantly to this report.

Thousands of people experience homelessness in Cleveland and Akron every year. But what if these people were given money? Money that they could use to dig their way out of poverty and turn a new leaf?

When the Poverty and Homelessness Beat Reporter for The Tremonster, Jeneane Vanderhoff (currently experiencing homelessness along with her husband, Adam), was considering reporting on any existing solution that might help alleviate the problem of homelessness in Northeast Ohio, she said, “I read a study—I think it was Canada—they just recently gave homeless people $7,500 and saw how the people spent it.  It basically got them out of homelessness.  It did quite a bit to turn their lives around; they really didn’t waste the money—it’s a recent study.”

Our research led us to The New Leaf project in Vancouver, Canada, which recently published the study Vanderhoff had noticed.  The Vancouver-based project demonstrated that money from one-time cash transfers was spent wisely and provided stability in the lives of individuals recently experiencing homelessness.

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Next Cleveland Consent Decree Community Conversation: 6:00 pm, April 14

By Rich Weiss for Neighborhood & Community Media Association of Greater Cleveland

Have you ever wondered: “How is the dedication to community engagement reflected in the Cleveland Police Department’s current budget?”

Do you have a handle on: “What is the CPRB (Civilian Police Review Board) and what is its function?”

In the moment—when you or a loved one comes face-to-face with Cleveland Police Department policies—will you know: “Are body cameras used by all officers, and what is the protocol for turning body cameras on and off?”

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Local United Way & NAACP Chapters seek community input on CPD Consent Decree

Virtual Candlelight Vigil to Remember People Experiencing Homelessness Who Died in 2020

Cleveland, OH, Friday, December 18, 2020—Monday, December 21st, is the longest day of the year and the first day of winter. On this day, homeless advocates, people currently experiencing homelessness, homeless services providers, and others in our community will gather virtually to remember those who died in the homeless community in 2020. 

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How to Apply For Utility Assistance During the Pandemic in Ohio

Top regulator’s exit raises questions about utility and fossil fuel influence

CRITICS QUESTION WHETHER THE FORMER OHIO UTILITY COMMISSION CHAIR SHOULD HAVE RECUSED HIMSELF MORE OFTEN TO AVOID ANY APPEARANCE OF BIAS.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski

This article provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism in partnership with the nonprofit Energy News Network. Please join the Eye on Ohio free mailing list or the mailing list for the Energy New Network as this helps provide more public service reporting.

Concerns about the outsized influence of utility and fossil fuel interests have resurfaced as the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio begins steps to name a new commissioner after the sudden exit of Chair Sam Randazzo.  

Randazzo resigned on Nov. 20 after an FBI team had searched his home and FirstEnergy released a mandatory quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The report showed the company paid $4 million to an entity associated with Randazzo shortly before his appointment last year.

Now the Public Utilities Commission, or PUCO, has put out a call for applicants to fill the vacancy. Under Ohio law, a nominating council will review the applications and then nominate four candidates to the governor. Advocates have criticized the council, which only has one seat for a consumer advocate, as being too heavily tilted toward utility interests.

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Utility assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic

The exterior of the Carl B. Stokes Public Utilities building, a city government office building in downtown Cleveland (photo by Conor Morris)

In the spring, when people were ordered to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, all Ohio utilities stopped disconnecting service for customers who lost their jobs or were working fewer hours and couldn’t pay.

Starting in July, those moratoriums started to be lifted. The last moratoriums – Cleveland Public Power and the Cleveland Water Department – are set to end on Dec. 1.

Navigating payment plans, financial assistance programs and emergency funds can be frustrating. Plus, many community service agencies that sign up for these programs are closed to the public, and most applications must be completed online or by phone.

Advocates at these agencies say it’s a good idea to get your documents ready when calling for help, including associated utility bills, recent paychecks, and documentation of loss of income or confirmation of unemployment.

By simply dialing three digits (2-1-1), greater Clevelanders can make one call to find or give help.

Ohio’s United Way 2-1-1 Help Center can answer specific questions about which program might be a good fit.

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