7 days ago
Your Ohio electric bills are probably going up this month
**Related Video Above: Major rise in electric bill prices went into effect in May 2023.
CLEVELAND (WJW) —FirstEnergy customers are being alerted their electric bills may be getting more expensive starting this month due to energy market price.
As of June 1, residential customer rates for those on the standard service offer rose about 2 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), according to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). The rate increase does not include those who are enrolled with a competitive supplier or a government aggregation, such as the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC).
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See the price hikes right here.
For those with Cleveland Electric Illuminating for instance, that rate doesn't mean a 27% increase to the entire bill, but to the supplier portion of the bill.
Energy demand, such as from large data centers around the state, and limited supply continue to drive these costs, J.P. Blackwood, a spokesperson for the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel told FOX 8.
It's important to note that FirstEnergy delivers the electricity but does not generate electricity. Capacity prices, only a small portion of your bill, are going up about 800% following the latest auction by PJM Interconnection, which affects June 2025 through May 2026.
This latest increase does not have to do with FirstEnergy asking the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to increase customers' base rates back in April.
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At the time, they said it would help its Ohio companies 'recover their costs of providing distribution service to customers, including service reliability improvements made in recent years,' according to a statement from the company.
Since FirstEnergy's last base rate review in 2009, its Ohio companies — Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison — have reportedly invested millions of dollars to modernize and strengthen the distribution system which help reduce the size and length of power outages, according to the company.
Following multiple public hearings in Northeast Ohio, this decision is still ongoing.
'Utilities need money, but they need to be spending consumers' money only on what's needed and also what's prudent,' Blackwood said.
Those interested in trying to save money on their bill have the option to look at other energy suppliers on PUCO's Apples to Apples site. Check out Energy Choice Ohio's ways to make your home more energy efficient right here.
Find out more about your FirstEnergy bill right here. For those in need of assistance to manage their electricity bill head to the following website:
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