FirstEnergy Takes Step toward Cleaner, Modern Grid

(COLUMBUS – November 9, 2018) Although FirstEnergy has over the past couple of years sought billions in uneconomic coal bailouts, the utility giant today filed a plan with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to spend $516 million on grid modernization efforts, which will reduce waste and provide cleaner energy for Ohioans. With input from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the grid modernization plan will deliver significant customer benefits including greater access to energy use data, a more efficient grid and reduced bills, reflecting the lower operational costs from installing 700,000 new smart meters. The plan now awaits approval by the PUCO.

“This step toward a more modern, cleaner energy system is a promising sign that FirstEnergy might finally be moving in the right direction. But if the company keeps trying to make Ohioans pay for its uneconomic power plants, and we expect it will, we will continue to block those bailouts.”

• John Finnigan, Senior Counsel, Clean Energy