COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on Wednesday ordered FirstEnergy's three Ohio electric utilities to pay more than $250 million in restitution and penalties after determining they violated state law and commission rules in connection with the $60 million House Bill 6 corruption scandal ,

In two separate orders, the commission found that Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison, and Toledo Edison improperly used customer-funded charges and failed to follow corporate-separation regulations. The utilities must return approximately $180 million to customers and pay $70.71 million in civil forfeitures.

PUCO Chair Jenifer French said the decisions reflect the commission's effort to "follow the facts wherever they may lead," adding that the scandal should

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