The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company Rate Selection Guide
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, operating as 'The Illuminating Company,' is a FirstEnergy electric utility serving roughly 758,455 customers across Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Ohio is a deregulated electricity market (Energy Choice Ohio), so C&I customers can buy generation from competitive suppliers while CEI provides regulated delivery. Data access runs through the FirstEnergy My Account / Analyze Usage portal, the SUMR supplier portal, EDI, and HAN devices.
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate GS | Commercial (Secondary) | Customer charge + kWh distribution (+ demand for larger use) + riders; see PUCO No. 13 | Commercial and small industrial at secondary voltage |
| Rate GP | C&I (Primary) | Customer charge + demand (kW) + energy (kWh) + riders; see PUCO No. 13 | Larger C&I taking primary-voltage service |
| Rate GSU | Industrial (Subtransmission) | Customer charge + demand + energy + Transformer Charge + riders; see PUCO No. 13 | Large industrial able to take subtransmission service |
| SSO / Competitive supply | Generation | PTC ~9.5 c/kWh (residential, Jun 2026); lowest competitive ~8.1 c/kWh | Benchmark for shopping the generation portion |
Market Overview
Ohio is a deregulated electricity market under Energy Choice Ohio. CEI provides regulated distribution while C&I customers may buy generation from PUCO-certified competitive retail electric suppliers. Customers who do not shop receive the Standard Service Offer (SSO), procured by competitive auction, at the Price to Compare. As of June 2026 the residential Price to Compare was about 9.5 cents/kWh, while the lowest advertised competitive generation rate in the territory was about 8.1 cents/kWh.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company Data Access Guide →
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Options
Many Northeast Ohio communities run governmental aggregation programs (e.g., via SOPEC) that negotiate competitive generation rates on behalf of residents and small businesses; eligible customers can opt out.
Current Rate Schedules
CEI C&I delivery rates are set under PUCO No. 13 and are structured by service voltage: Rate GS (General Service - Secondary), Rate GP (General Service - Primary), and Rate GSU (General Service - Subtransmission, with a Transformer Charge). Bills combine a fixed customer charge, distribution (often kWh- and demand-kW-based for larger classes), and PUCO-approved riders, plus the generation/supply portion (SSO Price to Compare or a competitive supplier). In a February 2026 entry on rehearing, PUCO ordered CEI to file updated distribution tariffs by February 24, 2026 effective March 1, 2026, increasing CEI's annual distribution revenue by about $48.7 million, and to amortize roughly $245 million of deferred storm-restoration costs over 25 years. Specific customer-charge and demand-charge dollar figures are published in the PUCO No. 13 tariff; consult the tariff book for exact, current values.
Effective: March 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate GS - General Service (Secondary) | commercial | Commercial and small industrial customers taking service at secondary distribution voltage. | Fixed monthly customer charge plus per-kWh distribution (and demand-kW charges for larger usage), plus PUCO riders; generation via SSO Price to Compare or competitive supplier. See PUCO No. 13 for current values. | — |
| Rate GP - General Service (Primary) | commercial | Larger commercial and industrial customers taking service at primary distribution voltage. | Customer charge plus distribution demand (kW) and energy (kWh) charges, plus riders; generation separate. Primary-voltage service typically carries lower per-unit distribution than secondary. See PUCO No. 13. | — |
| Rate GSU - General Service (Subtransmission) | industrial | Large industrial customers taking service at subtransmission voltage (includes a Transformer Charge where the company owns the directly serving transformer). | Customer charge plus demand (kW) and energy (kWh) distribution charges and a Transformer Charge, plus riders; generation separate. Lowest per-unit distribution tier. See PUCO No. 13. | — |
| Standard Service Offer (SSO) - Price to Compare | commercial | C&I customers who do not select a competitive supplier; default generation procured through PUCO competitive auction. | Generation/supply charge set by competitive auction (the Price to Compare); residential PTC ~9.5 cents/kWh as of June 2026. Use as the benchmark when shopping competitive supply. See PUCO/Energy Choice Ohio. | — |
| Competitive Retail Electric Supply (generation) | commercial | C&I customers choosing a PUCO-certified competitive retail electric supplier for the generation portion. | Negotiated/market generation price (fixed or variable); CEI continues regulated delivery under GS/GP/GSU. Lowest advertised territory generation rate ~8.1 cents/kWh (June 2026). See Energy Choice Ohio. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Multi-site commercial portfolio
Centralize usage and benchmark across Northeast Ohio facilities while shopping generation.
Analyze Usage gives per-site interval visibility, and Ohio Energy Choice lets you shop generation across the portfolio against the Price to Compare.
- Pull interval data via SUMR for all sites
- Confirm each site's voltage-based rate class (GS vs GP)
- Shop generation against the Price to Compare
Large industrial / high-demand facility
Minimize delivered cost on a high-demand account.
Taking primary or subtransmission service lowers per-unit distribution, and demand management cuts the kW charge and PJM capacity exposure.
- Evaluate GSU (subtransmission) service eligibility
- Shave coincident peak demand
- Lock a fixed competitive generation rate
Energy consultant / supplier
Automate interval and billing data collection across many client accounts.
Registered suppliers/service providers use the SUMR portal and EDI 814HU/867HU with customer LOAs; non-registered consultants use the CIA form.
- Register with FirstEnergy Supplier Services (330-761-4348)
- Collect customer LOAs before requesting data
- Use SUMR for 15-minute interval exports
Facility pursuing demand response / efficiency
Monetize flexible load and reduce demand charges.
AMI interval data plus a PJM-certified CSP let demand-responsive facilities earn DR revenue while cutting peak demand charges.
- Use interval data to identify peaks
- Enroll eligible load with a PJM CSP
- Track coincident-peak windows
Historical Rate Trends
CEI distribution rates are set through PUCO base-rate and ESP proceedings, while the generation Price to Compare moves with competitive SSO auctions. In late 2025 / early 2026 PUCO completed a distribution rate proceeding for FirstEnergy's Ohio utilities.
March 1, 2026
Per a February 2026 PUCO entry on rehearing, CEI filed updated distribution tariffs (by Feb 24, 2026) effective March 1, 2026, increasing CEI annual distribution revenue by about $48.7 million; PUCO also ordered roughly $245 million of deferred storm-restoration costs amortized over 25 years (vs. the original 5 years) to soften bill impacts.
+$48.7M annual distribution revenueOverall trend: Increasing
Next expected change: Updated distribution tariffs effective March 1, 2026 per the February 2026 PUCO entry on rehearing.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because Ohio generation is deregulated, the two biggest C&I levers are shopping the generation/supply portion and managing demand on the regulated delivery side.
Shop competitive generation
For: All C&I classes
Compare PUCO-certified suppliers against the SSO Price to Compare on Energy Choice Ohio and lock a favorable fixed generation rate.
Manage peak demand (kW)
For: GP and GSU customers
For GP/GSU customers billed on demand, shift or shave peak loads to cut the kW-based distribution charge and PJM capacity exposure.
Take service at higher voltage
For: Large C&I
Where feasible, taking primary (GP) or subtransmission (GSU) service lowers per-unit distribution charges versus secondary service.
Use interval data + demand response
For: C&I with AMI meters
Use Analyze Usage / SUMR interval data to find peaks and enroll eligible load in PJM demand response through a CSP.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
Ohio electricity generation is deregulated. C&I customers can buy generation from any PUCO-certified competitive retail electric supplier while CEI continues regulated delivery and billing. Customers who do not shop receive the Standard Service Offer at the Price to Compare.
How to Compare The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company Suppliers
- 01Find your Price to Compare on a recent bill or at energychoice.ohio.gov
- 02Compare PUCO-certified supplier offers (the Apples to Apples tool)
- 03Confirm fixed vs. variable pricing and term
- 04Enroll with the chosen supplier; CEI continues delivery and billing
Contract Terms for The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company Supply Agreements
- Fixed vs. variable generation pricing
- Contract length and renewal/auto-renewal terms
- Early termination fees
- Monthly fees or minimum-usage charges
Common Pitfalls When Shopping The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company Rates
- Variable rates can rise sharply after a promotional period
- Auto-renewal to higher month-to-month rates
- Delivery charges are unaffected by supplier choice
- Confirm the supplier is PUCO-certified
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my business choose its electricity supplier?▾
Yes. Ohio is a deregulated market under Energy Choice Ohio, so C&I customers can buy generation from any PUCO-certified competitive retail electric supplier while CEI continues regulated delivery. If you don't choose, you receive the Standard Service Offer at the Price to Compare. Compare offers at energychoice.ohio.gov.
How does my business access its 15-minute interval data?▾
First-party customers can view interval data in the Analyze Usage tool after logging in to My Account. For bulk or programmatic export, a registered supplier or service provider can pull 15-minute and hourly data through the SUMR portal with a customer Letter of Authorization, or via EDI.
How can a consultant or supplier get our usage data automatically?▾
If they are a PUCO-licensed supplier or registered service provider, they use the SUMR portal (with your LOA) or EDI 814HU/867HU after completing EDI testing with FirstEnergy. Non-registered consultants can use the Customer Information Authorization (CIA) form for manual billing-data requests.
What rate schedule is my business on?▾
CEI assigns C&I customers to Rate GS (secondary voltage), Rate GP (primary voltage), or Rate GSU (subtransmission voltage) under PUCO No. 13, based largely on the voltage at which you take service. Higher-voltage service (GP/GSU) generally carries lower per-unit distribution charges but requires suitable facilities.
Did CEI distribution rates change in 2026?▾
Yes. Following a February 2026 PUCO entry on rehearing, CEI filed updated distribution tariffs by February 24, 2026 effective March 1, 2026, raising its annual distribution revenue by about $48.7 million. PUCO also ordered roughly $245 million of deferred storm-restoration costs amortized over 25 years to limit bill impacts.
Does CEI support Green Button?▾
FirstEnergy's Green Button / ESPI Connect My Data status for CEI is not clearly documented publicly. For first-party data, use the Analyze Usage tool; for automated third-party access, use the SUMR portal or EDI. Contact Supplier Services (330-761-4348) to confirm any Connect My Data availability.
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