Five things to know for Thursday, Jan. 8

PUCO approves unopposed settlement tied to controversial House Bill 6

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved a settlement increasing the amount of restitution FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities will pay customers as part of the FirstEnergy/House Bill 6 investigation. The change, part of an unopposed settlement agreement, stems from the commission’s Nov. 19, 2025, orders, which found the companies violated Ohio law, PUCO regulations, and PUCO orders by increasing the amount of monetary restitution to customers rather than assessing civil forfeitures.

Under the revised deal, the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison Company, and The Toledo Edison Company will make $249 million in restitution to customers over three billing periods and provide an additional $20 million to fund low-income programs. The companies will also make $5 million in restitution to the Retail Energy Supply Association for violations of corporate separation regulations and refund $6.6 million for inappropriate charges and roughly $6.2 million in interest.

PUCO agrees to CenterPoint Energy Ohio rate increase. PUCO modified and approved a settlement agreement allowing CenterPoint Energy Ohio to increase its rates for natural gas distribution service and increase its annual revenues by roughly $51.3 million and establish a return on equity of 9.79%. In its order, the commission, citing “affordability” concerns, altered the agreement by lowering the return on equity by 6 basis points to 9.79 and extending the amortization period for recovery of deferred expenses from 15 to 25 years.

Multi-agency operation nets five felony arrests in Cincinnati. As part of a Jan. 6 “violent crime reduction” effort in Cincinnati, state and local authorities reported five felony arrests and seized what authorities said were two illegally possessed firearms. The crackdown, the first violent crime reduction operation of 2026, is part of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s ongoing Violent Crime Reduction Initiative. Similar efforts last year led to 521 felony arrests and the seizure of what authorities said were 175 illegal firearms across 23 Buckeye State communities.

State announces certification of two law enforcement agencies. The Office of Criminal Justice Services announced that two Ohio law enforcement agencies have been certified under the state standards established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board. Eleven additional agencies achieved their recertification. Recently certified agencies are the Seville Police Department in Medina and the Wakeman Police Department in Huron.

Vanderhoff: Ohio influenza rates rising. Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff reported that Ohio’s influenza rates are high and continue to increase. During a Wednesday briefing, Vanderhoff said ODH reported 1,911 hospitalizations statewide for the week ending Jan. 3, up from 1,456 hospitalizations in the previous week and 1,305 at this same point last year.