First Energy Decision Overturned

The Ohio Supreme Court rules $43 million in charges by FirstEnergy, from 2009 to 2011, are non-refundable to consumers. Insiders say the funds were collected in order for the company to pay for expensive Renewable Energy Certificates, or credits. It did so in order to make up for not meeting the legally required percentage of power it sold from renewable technologies. Those purchase costs were then passed on to consumers. The case went to court after the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ordered a refund of those consumer costs in 2013. First Energy serves 300,000 customers in northwest Ohio, through Toledo Edison.