SHARON, Pa. – FirstEnergy of Pennsylvania is asking a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission judge to dismiss a complaint filed by Sharon Regional Health System’s owner after the electric company issued a shut-off notice over more than $420,000 in reported past-due charges.
Tenor Health Foundation Sharon LLC filed a formal complaint with PUC in late May after reportedly receiving shut-off notices from FirstEnergy.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, which conducts periodic inspections of hospitals across the commonwealth, reported concerns May 14 about the hospital’s past-due gas and electricity bills.
According to the report, a service termination bill from the natural gas supplier in March indicated past due amounts totaling $50,591 for the boiler, warehouse and linen locations. Despite Tenor making small partial payments, the outstanding balance due had ballooned to $90,522 by April 22, the report states.
A shut-off notice was issued for natural gas May 8, and it stated the amount owed was $75,105. While gas was to be shut off June 14, no further information has been reported by the health department.
Even larger was the amount reportedly unresolved for electricity, which as of May 14 was listed at $421,197. A notice to terminate was issued and stated electricity would be shut off May 26, the day Tenor filed its complaint with the PUC.
According to the Health Department, Sharon Regional had until Aug. 14 to submit a plan addressing its past-due utility bills and remain in compliance. As of Aug. 21, the health department website indicates an approved plan of correction has not been filed.
In a statement, a health department spokesman said it “continues to conduct thorough oversight of Sharon Regional Medical Center in order to ensure patients and staff are safe at the hospital. The Department is in regular communications with the hospital and state surveyors, also known as inspectors, have been onsite to ensure all applicable state regulations are followed. Safeguarding patient health and safety remains a priority of DOH.”
FirstEnergy on Aug. 19 filed a motion to dismiss Tenor’s formal complaint, which is blocking it from pursuing the past-due amounts by issuing a shut-off date for electric service.
In its motion, FirstEnergy claims Tenor has failed to have a Pennsylvania bar-certified attorney or one admitted by the court to represent it in the matter, which FirstEnergy states is a requirement per PUC regulations.
FirstEnergy has asked the judge to require Tenor to have an attorney register an appearance within 10 days or dismiss the complaint.
The Tenor Health Foundation acquired the hospital in 2025 after it had closed due to the Steward Health Care System bankruptcy in 2024, reopening it in March 2025. It has been touted as the first time a closed hospital has been successfully reopened in Pennsylvania.
Since then, Tenor also has acquired Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton, both in Scranton, Pa.