Cleveland Ohio Electricity Rates Complete Guide to FirstEnergy Service, CCA Program, and Savings

Cleveland Ohio Electricity Overview

Cleveland, Ohio residents have access to electricity choice through the state's deregulated energy market, with most of the city served by The Illuminating Company, a FirstEnergy utility. Cleveland electricity snapshot:

Population: ~370,000 (Ohio's second-largest city)
Average monthly usage: 892 kWh
Average electric bill: ~$139.50 (supply + delivery)

Your electricity options:

FirstEnergy default service – Current Price to Compare rate
Competitive suppliers – Shop via PUCO Apples to Apples
Cleveland CCA – City aggregation program through SOPEC with renewable options

⚠️ Note: A portion of Cleveland is served by Cleveland Public Power, which operates outside the deregulated market.

The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) Service

The Illuminating Company is the primary electric distribution utility serving Cleveland and Cuyahoga County as part of FirstEnergy Corporation. FirstEnergy Ohio utilities:

The Illuminating Company (Greater Cleveland)
Ohio Edison (Northeast/Central Ohio)
Toledo Edison (Northwest Ohio)

Service territory:

Most of Cuyahoga County
Portions of surrounding counties
Approximately 750,000 customers in Northeast Ohio

What The Illuminating Company handles (regardless of supplier):

Distribution infrastructure
Outage response
Meter reading
Power delivery management

💡 As a distribution utility, The Illuminating Company delivers electricity but does not generate power for retail customers.

Current Cleveland Electricity Rates (2025)

The Illuminating Company Price to Compare for Cleveland residential customers is currently 9.16¢/kWh effective October – December 2025. Rate breakdown:

Supply charge: 9.16¢/kWh (Price to Compare)
Total monthly bills: $173-187 average for 1,000 kWh usage

Recent rate changes:

June 2025: Rates increased nearly 2¢/kWh
FirstEnergy proposed additional distribution increases (~$13/month pending PUCO approval)

💡 When comparing suppliers: Focus on rates relative to the 9.16¢ Price to Compare benchmark.

Cleveland Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program

Cleveland CCA is administered by SOPEC (Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council) and supplied by AEP Energy. How it works:

Opt-out program – Eligible Illuminating Company customers automatically enrolled
Group electricity purchasing for competitive rates
Can opt out anytime to choose different supplier

Current program rates (Aug 2025 – July 2026):

100% renewable: 9.236¢/kWh
50% renewable: Contact AEP Energy for rate
Traditional (non-renewable): Contact AEP Energy for rate

Rate history:

Aug 2024 – July 2025: 6.762¢/kWh (100% renewable)

💡 Opt down to save: Contact AEP Energy for 50% renewable or traditional rates if you prefer lower cost over green energy.

Cleveland Public Power Customers

A significant portion of Cleveland is served by Cleveland Public Power (CPP), the city's municipal electric utility. ⚠️ Important distinction:

CPP customers cannot participate in Ohio electricity choice
Municipal utilities operate outside the deregulated market
Rates set by Cleveland City Council, not market competition

CPP service area:

Approximately 75,000 customers
Much of the West Side
Parts of downtown
Various other Cleveland neighborhoods

How to check your utility: Look at your electric bill header for:

"Cleveland Public Power" = CPP (no choice)
"The Illuminating Company" = Eligible for CCA or supplier shopping

📞 CPP contact: 216-664-3922

Comparing Cleveland Electricity Suppliers

Cleveland residents served by The Illuminating Company can compare suppliers through PUCO Apples to Apples at energychoice.ohio.gov. Rate benchmarks to compare against:

Price to Compare: 9.16¢/kWh (FirstEnergy default)
Cleveland CCA: 9.236¢/kWh (100% renewable)

Plan types available:

Fixed-rate: Lock price for 6-36 months
Variable-rate: Adjusts monthly, usually no ETF
Green energy: Renewable power or RECs

What to check when comparing:

Contract length
Early termination fees
Whether rate includes all supply charges
Additional monthly fees

Understanding Your Cleveland Electric Bill

Cleveland Illuminating Company electric bills separate charges into supply and distribution components. Supply charges (you can control):

Price to Compare rate – FirstEnergy default
Competitive supplier rate – If you've switched
Cleveland CCA rate – If enrolled in aggregation

Distribution charges (FirstEnergy infrastructure):

Transmission costs
Customer charges
Various riders and fees

Typical monthly bill breakdown (1,000 kWh):

Total bill: $173-187
Supply portion: ~$92 (at 9.16¢/kWh)
Delivery portion: ~$81-95

What your bill shows:

Total kWh consumed
Daily usage averages
Year-over-year comparisons
Price to Compare (for shopping reference)
CCA participants see "AEP Energy" as supplier

💡 Understanding these components helps identify which portion you can reduce through supplier shopping vs. efficiency improvements.

Strategies for Saving on Cleveland Electricity

Cleveland residents can reduce electricity costs through multiple strategies. Supply cost strategies:

Compare suppliers – Beat the 9.16¢/kWh Price to Compare
Cleveland CCA – 9.236¢ for 100% renewable, no shopping hassle
CCA opt-down – 50% renewable or traditional power for lower rates
Lock fixed rates – Protect against future increases when prices are favorable

Energy efficiency strategies (especially for Cleveland winters):

LED lighting upgrades
Smart thermostat installation
Weatherization and insulation
FirstEnergy rebates on efficient appliances

Assistance programs for qualifying Cleveland residents:

PIPP – Percentage of Income Payment Plan
HEAP – Home Energy Assistance Program
Community Action Agency – Additional utility assistance

💡 Combining supplier shopping with efficiency improvements maximizes total savings.

FirstEnergy Outage Reporting in Cleveland

The Illuminating Company handles all power outages in its Cleveland service territory regardless of your electricity supplier. How to report Illuminating Company outages:

📞 Call: FirstEnergy at 1-888-544-4877
📱 App: FirstEnergy mobile app
💻 Online: Outage map at firstenergycorp.com

⚠️ Cleveland Public Power customers: Call CPP at 216-664-3156 instead. Common causes of Cleveland outages:

Lake Erie lake-effect snow
Ice storms
Summer thunderstorms
Tree damage in heavy vegetation neighborhoods

Grid improvements:

Smart meters installed
Automated switching equipment
Ongoing infrastructure modernization

🚨 Emergency: Downed power lines – call immediately and stay away from the hazard.

Cleveland Electricity Resources and Contacts

The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy):

📞 Customer service: 1-800-589-3101
🚨 Outage reporting: 1-888-544-4877
💻 Energy efficiency rebates: firstenergycorp.com

Cleveland Public Power:

📞 Customer service: 216-664-3922
🚨 Outage reporting: 216-664-3156

Cleveland CCA program:

💻 SOPEC: sopec-oh.gov
📞 AEP Energy (supplier): Contact for opt-down options

Shopping and complaints:

PUCO Apples to Apples: energychoice.ohio.gov
📞 PUCO complaints: 1-800-686-7826 or puco.ohio.gov
📞 Ohio Consumers Counsel: 1-877-742-5622 (free assistance)

Energy assistance:

HEAP – Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services
PIPP – Percentage of Income Payment Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current electricity rate in Cleveland Ohio?

The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) Price to Compare for Cleveland residential customers is 9.16 cents per kWh effective October through December 2025. The Cleveland CCA program offers 9.236 cents per kWh for 100% renewable energy. Total monthly bills average $173-187 for typical 1,000 kWh usage including both supply and distribution charges. Cleveland Public Power customers have separate rates set by the city.

What is the Cleveland CCA program?

Cleveland Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a city-administered program through SOPEC providing group electricity purchasing for Illuminating Company customers. The current rate is 9.236 cents per kWh for 100% renewable energy through July 2026. The program is opt-out, automatically enrolling eligible residents. Customers can opt down to 50% renewable or traditional power for potentially lower rates by contacting AEP Energy.

Can I choose my electricity supplier in Cleveland?

Cleveland residents served by The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) can choose electricity suppliers through Ohio energy choice. Visit energychoice.ohio.gov to compare licensed suppliers. Cleveland Public Power customers cannot participate in electricity choice because municipal utilities operate outside the deregulated market. Check your bill to determine which utility serves your address.

What is the difference between The Illuminating Company and Cleveland Public Power?

The Illuminating Company is a FirstEnergy utility serving most of Greater Cleveland within the deregulated market, allowing customers to choose suppliers. Cleveland Public Power is a municipal utility serving about 75,000 customers in specific Cleveland neighborhoods with rates set by City Council. CPP customers cannot participate in electricity choice or the Cleveland CCA program.

How do I report a power outage in Cleveland?

For Illuminating Company outages, call FirstEnergy at 1-888-544-4877 or use the FirstEnergy app. View the outage map at firstenergycorp.com for current outages and restoration estimates. Cleveland Public Power customers should call 216-664-3156 instead. FirstEnergy handles outage response regardless of your electricity supplier for Illuminating Company customers.

Are Cleveland electricity rates increasing?

FirstEnergy customers saw rates increase nearly 2 cents per kWh in June 2025. Additional distribution rate increases have been proposed that could add approximately $13 per month to typical Illuminating Company bills if approved by PUCO. Compare supplier offers and consider the Cleveland CCA program to potentially offset rate increases through competitive pricing.

About the author

Enri Zhulati

Consumer Advocate

Enri has spent years helping Texans navigate the deregulated electricity market at ComparePower. He knows what confuses people about energy shopping and what actually helps them save. At ElectricRates.org, he brings that same expertise to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

Electricity deregulationOhio Energy ChoicePennsylvania Power SwitchMassachusetts competitive suppliersPUCO regulations

Topics covered

Cleveland electricity Illuminating Company FirstEnergy Ohio Cleveland CCA Northeast Ohio electricity Cleveland electric rates Ohio energy choice PUCO SOPEC Cleveland Public Power

Sources & References

FirstEnergy - The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy Corp): "The Illuminating Company serves Greater Cleveland as part of FirstEnergy Corporation"Accessed Jan 2025
SOPEC - Cleveland CCA (Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council): "SOPEC administers Cleveland Community Choice Aggregation program with renewable energy options"Accessed Jan 2025

Last updated: December 10, 2025