House Bill 6

A “decoupling” measure worth about $50 million a year to Firstenergy Corp.

● A repeal of mandated energy efficiency programs and their related fees.

● A repeal of renewable energy benchmarks that required electric companies to purchase an increasing share of power from green sources.

● A subsidy for two coal-fired power plants owned by the Ohio Valley Electric Corp., including one in Indiana.

After Householder’s arrest in July 2020 on a racketeering conspiracy charge, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued to put those nuclear plant fees on hold. In March 2021, lawmakers voted to repeal the nuclear subsidies and decoupling provision.

That repeal came after a federal rule change that would have penalized the nuclear plants’ owner, now called Energy Harbor, for receiving state subsidies. In the end, the company backed the repeal.

Nearly three years later, pieces of House Bill 6 remain on the books and cost consumers about $150 million a year for the coal plants’ subsidies, according to an analysis from the Ohio Manufacturers Association.

The energy efficiency and renewable energy mandates were not restored, and the net effect of that is up for debate. Lawmakers argued the mandates cost Ohioans on their electric bills, but environmental advocates countered that for every $1 that utilities spent on energy efficiency, Ohioans saved $2.65.

Last week, Texas-based Vistra announced a $3.43 billion deal to buy Energy Harbor, the nuclear plants’ owner. Three days later, Householder was convicted of racketeering conspiracy for trading campaign bribes for the nuclear bailout.

Reporter Jessie Balmert contributed to this article.

USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau reporters Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff have been following the House Bill 6 scandal since the story broke. They will continue to follow developments and the trial. Follow them on Twitter at @lbischoff and @jbalmert for updates.

The USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau serves the Akron Beacon Journal, the Columbus Dispatch, the Cincinnati Enquirer and other network news organizations across the state.