Electric rates rising for Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison customers, PUCO says
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Customers of the Illuminating Company and Ohio Edison will see higher electric bills starting June 1 as new standard service offer rates take effect, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio said.
The Illuminating Company, which serves customers in Greater Cleveland, will increase the residential rate by nearly 2 cents per kilowatt-hour to .091 cents per kWh. Ohio Edison customers, mostly in Northeast and Central Ohio, will see a similar increase, with the standard rate rising to about .094 cents per kWh.
The new rates apply to customers not enrolled in a government aggregation program or with a competitive energy supplier.
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The changes come after the utilities held competitive auctions in which certified suppliers submitted bids to provide electricity.
Under law, utilities can not make a profit off such rate increases. They must charge customers only what the utilities pay for the cost of generated electricity.
“It is important for consumers to be aware of pricing changes impacting their electricity bills this summer,” PUCO Chair Jenifer French said in a news release. “The PUCO is available to assist Ohioans to understand their electric bill, and what options they have to manage their bills year round.”
Customers in Ohio can choose their electricity supplier, so they’re not limited to the default rate selected by the utility.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio recommends checking the “price-to-compare,” or PTC, printed on customers’ monthly utility bill when comparing electricity rates from competitive suppliers to know if switching suppliers will help them save money or not.
Consumers can also compare certified electricity plans using the PUCO’s Energy Choice Ohio website at energychoice.ohio.gov, which includes side-by-side comparisons of fixed and variable rate offers, contract terms, renewable content, and other features.
For those who need help managing costs, assistance programs such as budget billing and payment plans are available at puco.ohio.gov/utilityhelp. Customers can also call the PUCO at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) for more information.