Utility chairman skips meeting after search
The chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, whose home was searched by the FBI on Monday, was a no-show at Wednesday’s commission meeting.
Beyond roll call, there was no mention of Sam Randazzo during PUCO’S 10minute meeting held online as the commissioners quickly went through their agenda.
Randazzo’s home in German Village was searched Monday morning.
Gov. Mike Dewine appointed Randazzo’s in 2019. He was a longtime utility attorney and lobbyist before the appointment.
Why Randazzo’s home was searched and what the FBI are looking for isn’t clear, and the FBI and PUCO have declined comment. There was no immediate explanation for why Randazzo wasn’t at Wednesday’s PUCO meeting.
Randazzo has connections to Akronbased Firstenergy, the power company at the heart of the state’s scandal over House Bill 6, which bails out two nuclear power plans.
Dewine, speaking at a news briefing to discuss the latest measures in the state’s effort to control the coronavirus epidemic on Tuesday, deflected questions about the search of Randazzo’s home.
In response to a question, the Republican governor said there were no indications that Randazzo was under investigation or the target of an investigation.
“We’re waiting for additional information, quite candidly,” Dewine said. “I hired him. I think he’s a good person. If there’s evidence to the contrary, we’ll act accordingly. But I’m not going to act without the facts.”
The PUCO chair is one of the most powerful positions in state government, able to influence the regulation of utilities in the state impacting utility profits and rates charged to customers. As PUCO chair, Randazzo also is chair of the Ohio Power Siting Board, which has oversight approval for new electric-generating facilities.
The search came nearly four months after the FBI arrested then-ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others in connection to a $60 million bribery scheme funded in part by Firstenergy, which sought the $1 billion legislative bailout in House Bill 6 for its two aging nuclear power plants in the state.
Householder and four others were subsequently indicted on racketeering charges in federal court. Householder has pleaded not guilty. Two of the men indicted with Householder have pleaded guilty to charges.
A coalition of consumer and environmental groups on Tuesday called on DeWine to immediately remove Randazzo from the PUCO, citing his ties to Firstenergy. The governor has the sole authority to remove PUCO commission members.
“We have adamantly opposed Randazzo’s appointment since February 2019. He does not hold an elected position, so the power to remove him rest squarely on the shoulders of the governor,” the coalition said in a joint statement.
The groups, including Ohio Citizen Action, Black Environmental Leaders, Evangelical Environmental Network and Moms Clean Air Force, said Randazzo can’t oversee utilities in a fair and ethical way if he is being investigated by the FBI.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
mawilliams@dispatch.com