FirstEnergy’s fight to undercut Cleveland Public Power exposes a dark-money group with ties to House Bill 6

Cleveland Public Power headquarters on Lakeside Avenue in downtown Cleveland

Cleveland Public Power headquarters on Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The latest plan to undercut Cleveland Public Power began in early 2018, when a Cincinnati fixer incorporated a nonprofit that was financed by FirstEnergy Corp. and aided by attorneys and lobbyists, authorities say.

The nonprofit, Consumers Against Deceptive Fees, gained speed with the help of a consultant who had worked behind the scenes on several local political campaigns in recent years, including those of Mayor Frank Jackson and members of Cleveland City Council.

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