Amid Blackouts and Scandal, FirstEnergy Seeks $190 Million Rate Increase - DOES FIRSTENERGY DESERVE RATE HIKES?
[State HB6 bribery scandal hearings and this summer's blackouts in northeast Ohio could hamper FirstEnergy's filing to raise distribution rates.]_In spite of complaints to PUCO about 13 summer blackouts and ongoing hearings into the HB6 scandal, FirstEnergy asked for a rate hike for its Ohio customers._
FIRSTENERGY [https://www.ohenergyratings.com/companies/firstenergy] customers have dealt with a lot of problems. The utility has failed to keep the power flowing for the past four months. The company has yet to face any penalties for their role in the HB6 bribery scandal. Despite all this, they still want to raise electric rates [https://www.ohenergyratings.com/electricity-rates] for their customers. But what has FirstEnergy done? Have they tried to make things right? More importantly, do they deserve millions of dollars in rate increase?
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES FIRSTENERGY WANT?
FirstEnergy recently filed a request to raise their income by $190 million. If approved, this rate hike [https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/08/05/ohios-energy-companies-want-rate-hikes-as-testimony-accuses-puco-of-hiding-information/] would increase distribution charges for the company's three Ohio utilities. The OCC estimate that ILLUMINATING COMPANY [https://www.ohenergyratings.com/companies/illuminating-company] customers would see their bills spike by about $13 a month. OHIO EDISON...
