Corporate Responsibility
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Code of Conduct: The Power of Integrity
Code of Conduct
On July 20, 2021, the Board of Directors of FirstEnergy Corp. (the “Company”) approved and adopted a new Code of Conduct (the “Code of Conduct”), entitled “The Power of Integrity," which became effective immediately. The Code is applicable to all Directors, Officers, employees, contractors and temporary workers of the Company, including the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The new Code of Conduct promotes and emphasizes FirstEnergy’s commitment to compliance and ethics, fosters a “speak up” culture in which stakeholders are encouraged to report actual or suspected Code of Conduct violations without fear of retaliation, improves readability, and promotes understanding of compliance commitments and expectations. Adoption of the Code of Conduct did not result in any explicit or implicit waiver of any provision of the Code of Conduct.
Learn more about FirstEnergy's Code of Conduct and Conflicts-of-Interest policy.
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Policies and Reports
The results of candidate elections and ballot initiatives and their impact on public policy can have a profound effect on FirstEnergy and its stakeholders. FirstEnergy believes it has a responsibility to its shareholders, customers and employees to participate in the political process and, where appropriate and legally permissible, to make contributions in connection with elections for public office and expenditures in connection with non-candidate state and local ballot initiatives such as referendums and constitutional amendments.
FirstEnergy has decision-making and oversight processes in place for political contributions and expenditures to ensure such contributions or expenditures are legally permissible and in the best interests of FirstEnergy. Accordingly, this policy describes the criteria for certain political contributions and ballot initiative expenditures made with corporate funds and the process for approving such contributions and expenditures.
Scope
This policy governs legally permissible corporate political contributions and grassroots lobbying communications, including contributions to candidate campaigns and to entities operating under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, and expenditures for non-candidate state and local ballot initiatives.
Policy
Corporate Political Participation – Overview
Under federal law, there are limits on a corporation’s ability to give direct corporate contributions to federal candidates and national political parties. Accordingly, FirstEnergy does not contribute corporate funds directly to federal political candidates or parties.
Each state has different laws, rules and regulations governing political contributions in state and local elections. Any corporate political contributions by FirstEnergy are made in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Our contribution decisions are based on what is in the best interests of FirstEnergy and not based on the personal preferences of our executives.
Industry Groups, Trade Associations and Related Organizations
In certain circumstances, where permitted by law, and with the approval of our External Affairs Department, FirstEnergy may use corporate funds for the payment of dues and/or contributions to section 527 organizations (tax exempt organizations that engage in political activities), section 501(c)(4) organizations and trade associations that may use a portion of such dues for political and lobbying activities.
View 2019 Lobbying Portion of Trade Association Dues
View 2018 Lobbying Portion of Trade Association Dues
View 2017 Lobbying Portion of Trade Association Dues
Corporate Political Participation – Process and Criteria
Any request for a FirstEnergy political contribution and grassroots lobbying communications, including contributions to an entity operating under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code or an expenditure for a non-candidate state and local ballot initiative, shall be submitted to the External Affairs Department for review and approval. The External Affairs Department will review the request to confirm that the proposed contribution or expenditure is in the best interests of FirstEnergy and, working with the FirstEnergy Legal Department, confirm that any contribution or expenditure we consider complies with applicable election laws, rules and regulations.
The External Affairs Department will keep accurate records of any corporate political contributions and take actions to ensure that where required, complete and accurate disclosures to government entities are made.
Lobbying Reports
FirstEnergy and our lobbyists are required to file reports with the U.S. Congress and state agencies on a regular basis disclosing information about their lobbying activities. The reports are available for review on the websites of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as noted below.
- FirstEnergy maintains and files Lobbying Disclosure Act Registration and Reports (Form LD-2) with the U.S. Congress. These reports detail the particular bills and issues on which individual lobbyists engaged, as well as the total lobbying expenses incurred. These reports may be found at: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/Public_Disclosure/LDA_reports.htm
- FirstEnergy and its registered federal lobbyists must also file semi-annual reports detailing, among other things, disbursements and personal and/or direct contributions to federal candidates. These forms (LD-203) may be found at: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/Public_Disclosure/LDA_reports.htm
View 2019 Federal Lobbying Reports
View 2018 Federal Lobbying Reports
View 2017 Federal Lobbying Reports
In many cases, State reports, if required, are also made available for review on the applicable state agency website.
Political Action Committee
FirstEnergy encourages its employees to be active members of their communities. Along with participation in civic, charitable and volunteer activities, this includes participation in the political process. All eligible employees may make voluntary contributions to FirstEnergy’s Political Action Committee (FE PAC). The FE PAC is directed by a board of employees which makes and approves all decisions regarding the FE PAC’s political contributions budget.
FE PAC contributions are publicly disclosed as required on the website of the Federal Election Commission at http://www.fec.gov/.
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Corporate Contributions
Pursuant to FirstEnergy’s obligations in Section 5(D) (“Transparency in Corporate Contributions”) of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement filed on July 22, 2021, in United States v. FirstEnergy Corp., Case No. 1:21cr00086 (SDOH), below is a list of all payments made by FirstEnergy between January 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021, to entities incorporated under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(4), and to entities known by FirstEnergy to be operating for the benefit of a public official, either directly or indirectly:
Date Paid Organization Name Organization Address Amount Purpose 1/11/2021 Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System Inc Lockbox 446023 PO Box 64079 Saint Paul MN 55164 $2,200.00 Subscription for services 1/20/2021-1/25/2021 Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Northeast Ohio Chapter PO Box 14715 Cleveland, OH 44114 $30.00 Membership dues 1/20/2021-3/19/2021 Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Northeast Ohio Chapter PO Box 14715 Cleveland, OH 44114 $135.00 Training 1/25/2021 National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) 1101 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005 $3,950.00 NARUC Winter Summit registration for employee attendance 1/15/2021-6/14/2021 Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. 720 City Center Dr, Carmel, IN 46032 $2,097,947.11
Payments for legacy MISO Transmission Expansion Plan (MTEP) project costs that were allocated to a FirstEnergy subsidiary, as mandated by FERC 2/2/2021 Rotary Club of Youngstown 201 E Commerce St. Suite 450 Youngstown Oh $475.00 Membership dues 3/1/2021-6/11/2021 Resolute Strategies, LLC 331 Knoll Top Lane Haddonfield, NJ 08033 $67,500.00 Regulatory and public affairs consulting 3/16/2021 Three Rivers Pollution Response Council Inc. Westmoreland City PA 15692 $1,000.00* Membership dues 3/31/2021 Potomac Edison Forerunners 22009 Mohawk Drive Smithsburg, MD 21783 $1,100.00 Employee club membership dues 5/1/2021 Lumberport Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 33, Lumberport, WV 26386 $1,000.00 Donation to local fire department 5/15/2021 I-79 Technology Park Association 1000 Technology Drive Suite 3000 Fairmont, WV 26554 $2,379.50 Building association fee for a FirstEnergy facility 5/24/2021 Minardi Public Affairs LLC 1526 Bedford Rd, Charleston, WV 25314 $12,000.00 Government relations and legislative consulting services 6/9/2021 Londonderry Fire Co. 2655 Foxianna Road
Middletown, PA 17057$1,265.00 Donation to local fire department 6/9/2021 Lower Swatara Volunteer Fire Department 1350 Fulling Mill Road
Middletown, PA 17057$23,052.50 Donation to local fire department *Updated as of 9/22/2021
Information about FirstEnergy’s subsequent Corporate Contributions, if any, will be updated here on a quarterly basis going forward.
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Corporate Responsibility Website
FirstEnergy's Corporate Responsiblity Website
At FirstEnergy, we believe our success as a company requires strong management and oversight of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, as well as transparency and accountability regarding where we need to improve and how we’re going to succeed. We also believe staying true to our mission, core values and behaviors means pursuing ESG objectives and initiatives that positively impact our employees, customers, communities and the environment.