10/29/03

July 6, 1999 - Bill laying out rules for deregulating Ohio electricity companies signed into law.

Aug. 11, 1999 - Ohio Consumers' Counsel seeks bids from consultants to provide technical advice during deregulation.

Sept. 8, 1999 - State Controlling Board approves LaCapra Associates' contract with the OCC.

Dec. 22, 1999 - FirstEnergy files its electric transition plan with the PUCO for approval.

Jan. 28, 2000 - LaCapra presents its preliminary work in the FirstEnergy case to members of the OCC staff.

Feb. 11, 2000 - PUCO staff report objects to the figure for FirstEnergy's stranded costs but releases no dollar figure of its own.

Feb. 15, 2000 - PUCO-hired consultant Research Data International completes its estimates of FirstEnergy's assets for the commission staff, but the staff never takes the next step of calculating stranded costs.

April 14, 2000 - LaCapra's draft testimony calls FirstEnergy's proposal "a $3.5 billion windfall for FirstEnergy at the Ohio consumers' expense."

April 17, 2000 - Tongren joins other parties in signing off on FirstEnergy settlement agreement, which later goes to PUCO and is approved.

Jan. 1, 2001 - Electric deregulation begins in Ohio.

2000-2001 - Tongren denies requests by The Plain Dealer and others to release LaCapra's findings.

February 2003 - Tongren's office makes a policy change that allows case files to be destroyed one year, rather than two years, after the office ceases involvement in a case.

July 2003 - Tongren's office discards the documents.