COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio utility regulators ordered Akron-based FirstEnergy on Wednesday to pay more than $250 million in fines and refunds as a result of its misconduct in a sweeping Statehouse bribery scandal whose fallout continues five years on .

The punishment meted out by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio includes nearly $187 million to be returned to FirstEnergy customers, as well as almost $180 million in penalties for failing to properly direct fees collected for grid modernization to their stated purpose.

“The commission has remained steadfast in ensuring that we have followed the facts wherever they may lead,” Commission chairwoman Jenifer French said about the unanimous vote. “Our hope is the events underlying these proceedings will remain a cautionary lesson of acco

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