Local Utility Companies Act In Your Best Interests, Right?
It is of most people’s opinion that public utility companies are “for the people”— being they are regulated by a Public Utility Commission of the states in which they provide services. This commission approves things like rate increases, charges, infrastructure improvements, and a lot more. Since local utility companies hold a local monopoly (so companies do not compete with infrastructure and turn our electric poles into wired, tangled messes) these PUC’s are necessary to hold control of these company charges to consumers. This gives the illusion that you’re safe from outrageous policy and profit-maximizing activities from these for-profit companies. Well, I’m here to say you need to rethink these assumptions. Corruption at the highest level was recently unveiled by none other than First Energy Corp. FirstEnergy is an umbrella corporation that owns 4 of the 7 public utility companies servicing PA residents. These being: Penn Power, West Penn Power, Met-Ed, and Penelec. These preside towards the central and the western half of the state covering most of the territory.
Former CEO, Charles Jones, along with a PUCO (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio) Chairman, and FirstEnergy’s Senior VP, were charged with a combined 27 felony charges. This is the result of a busted corruption-campaign between all three parties. The highlight of this commentary is- FirstEnergy CEO colludes with a chairman of the PUCO—the government regulatory commission that oversees how much money Mr. Jones’ corporation is allowed to charge/make—which gained FirstEnergy illegal control of things like rate increases, extra charges, and the like toward it’s consumers.
“Jones and Dowling actively worked to spend FirstEnergy money to improperly influence Randazzo to exercise the authority of PUCO chairman to advance FirstEnergy’s regulatory and policy agendas,” the indictment says. Specifically, the indictment accuses the enterprise of engaging in a scheme to corrupt the PUCO chairman and ratemaking policies, stealing millions of dollars from FirstEnergy and a nonprofit trade group, and tampering with government records.”
THIS IS ABSURD. Corruption at the highest level.
I will point out that these are merely allegations (as the article directly says). It is my opinion that with 27 felony charges, there is no escaping. I will be monitoring this case and seeing what the outcome holds.
If this doesn’t make you consider becoming energy independent, I’m not sure what will. Consider reaching out to me if you want to discuss this article or joining the solar revolution for no out-of-pocket cost.
-Noah Koppenhaver | Solar Professional