Energy Harbor has been subpoenaed in a criminal investigation into its involvement with former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, according to people close to the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors are asking the company to turn over documents proving the legality of its lobbying on behalf of House Bill 6, the piece of legislation it allegedly helped Larry Householder push through the Ohio legislature in return for bailout money for two of its then-bankrupt nuclear plants.
Wall Street Journal sources say investigators are probing whether the company’s support for Householder was part of the alleged pay-to-play arrangement outlined in Householder’s criminal indictment and a lawsuit filed by the state’s Attorney General. Its former parent company, FirstEnergy Corp., has already been subpoenaed, and has said it’s cooperating with the investigation.
Energy Harbor was owned by FirstEnergy for years until it filed for bankruptcy in 2018. After emerging, it was renamed “Energy Harbor” from “Energy Solutions.” Energy Harbor is currently still able to receive the fruit of the ratepayer-subsidized HB6 bailout, despite Householder’s criminal indictment. That could change with legal or legislative action.
Ohio ratepayers will have an extra $0.85 tacked onto their bill starting in January unless the Ohio legislature is able to file an emergency clause to repeal the rate increase.
It’s possible changes will be sooner made through the courts. FirstEnergy, Energy Harbor and Householder all face a number of lawsuits and probes, from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the state’s attorney general, to name a few.
