Ex-FirstEnergy lobbyist resigns from role helping to pick new utility regulators
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Former FirstEnergy lobbyist Michael Koren resigned from leading the state's efforts to pick utility regulators Friday morning.
Koren had served as chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Nominating Council despite his former ties to Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. Koren lobbied for the company when House Bill 6 to subsidize nuclear plants in northern Ohio was introduced in April 2019.
Ohio Consumers’ Counsel raised questions about whether Koren could impartially help select the next utility regulators. But Koren said in late 2020 that he knew nothing about FirstEnergy's bribery scheme. "I have no idea what they did and how they did it."
FirstEnergy later accepted a $230 million fine for bribing former House Speaker Larry Householder and former PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo. The former has pleaded not guilty and the latter has not been charged with any crime.
The nominating council interviews candidates for PUCO commissioner and gives a list of four finalists for the governor to consider.
On Tuesday, Koren resigned from his role there, citing medical issues.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve," he wrote in a brief resignation email.
Koren will be replaced by Cheryl Burchard of Hilliard. She lobbies for the Ohio Telecom Association, a statewide trade association representing 41 telecommunications providers throughout Ohio. She previously worked for former Speaker Jo Ann Davidson and Gov. Mike DeWine's Senate campaign.
Lobbyist Michael Hartley was also replaced on the nominating council by Stuart Alan Young of Yellow Springs. Young, third-generation dairy farmer, serves as vice-chair of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board.
Young is an owner and manager of Young’s Jersey Dairy Inc., which is a popular ice cream and tourist destination near DeWine's house in Greene County.
"This is an opportunity to put on someone whose done that (consumer) work for the last 10 years," DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said.
Tierney said the change shows DeWine is listening to Ohioans concerned about the lack of consumer advocates involved in picking PUCO commissioners. Koren was not asked to resign, but rather has been considering it for some time, he added.
Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Bruce Weston thanked DeWine for appointing Young and former OCC board member David Wondolowski to the nominating council and asked him to reopen applications for PUCO commissioner.
"We’ve been seeking major reforms of the PUCO and this is a start," Weston said.
Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ex-FirstEnergy lobbyist resigns from role helping to pick utility regulators
