The Illuminating Company: price per kWh, bills and who pays them
The Illuminating Company's 137,419 default-service customers in Ohio paid an average of 16.22¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $103.09 a month on 636 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 18.38¢, and 20.84¢ in August 2026.2 Another 540,162 homes on its wires (79.7%) buy their supply elsewhere and pay The Illuminating Company delivery charges averaging 7.71¢ per kWh, plus their supplier's price.
EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.
9 of 88 Ohio counties served (EIA-861 2025)
Of the 677,581 homes on The Illuminating Company's wires in 2025, 79.7% bought their electricity from a supplier or aggregation program, so its default-service price describes roughly one home in five. Those homes used little electricity, 636 kWh a month, which held their 2025 bill to $103.091; since then the price per kWh has climbed, reaching 20.84¢ per kWh2 in August 20264 (preliminary).
Price per kWh: four readings of the same customers
All four figures below describe the same group: residential customers who buy both their electricity and its delivery from The Illuminating Company, on the default supply that Ohio calls the Standard Service Offer. Each is an average price (total revenue from those customers divided by the kWh they used), not a rate printed in the tariff. It includes the monthly customer charge, delivery, generation and riders, and leaves out most taxes.
| Period | Paid per kWh, on average | Monthly bill, on average | kWh per home a month | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16.76¢ per kWh | $103.26 | 616 kWh3 | EIA-861 |
| 2025 | 16.22¢ per kWh | $103.09 | 636 kWh1 | EIA-861 |
| 12 months, September 2025 to August 2026 | 18.38¢ per kWh | $116.36 | 633 kWh | EIA-861M, 2026 preliminary |
| August 20264 | 20.84¢ per kWh2 | EIA-861M, preliminary |
For a current picture the 12-month row is the one to use: it covers a full cycle of seasons and ends with the latest data. The 2025 row is complete and final, which is why rankings use it. In 2025 its average placed 13th lowest of 27 Ohio utilities that each sell full service to at least 10,000 homes, 4.0% below the Ohio average and 8.8% below the national average for investor-owned utilities. Nationally, among large utilities (100,000 or more residential customers), it came 71st highest of 177; the median of that group was 15.07¢ per kWh1.
Because a fixed customer charge is part of every bill, a home that uses less electricity than average pays more per kWh than these figures, and a heavy user pays less.
The default price covers about one home in five
The Illuminating Company delivered electricity to 677,581 residential customers in 2025, 13.6% of Ohio's total. 540,162 of them got their supply through a retail supplier or a community aggregation program and paid The Illuminating Company only to carry it; 137,4191 stayed on its default supply. Set against Ohio's other investor-owned utilities in 2025, the supplier share looks like this:
| Utility | Residential customers on its wires | Share buying supply elsewhere |
|---|---|---|
| The Illuminating Company | 677,581 | 79.7% |
| Ohio Edison | 961,084 | 72.4% |
| AES Ohio | 469,317 | 69.6% |
| Toledo Edison | 279,678 | 69.3% |
| Duke Energy Ohio | 700,265 | 60.3% |
| AEP Ohio | 1,348,588 | 60.1%1 |
Ohio as a whole had the 2nd highest share of residential customers on a supplier among the 50 states and DC in 2025, 58.1%1.
What each group paid The Illuminating Company is a different thing, so the two averages sit side by side and are never added:
- Default service, supply and delivery: 16.22¢ per kWh in 2025, a bill of $103.09 on 636 kWh a month.
- Delivery only: 7.71¢ per kWh in 2025, down from 7.81¢ per kWh3 in 2024 (−1.3%), a delivery bill of $54.59 on 708 kWh1 a month. Whatever the supplier bills comes on top and varies by contract; EIA collects no supplier prices for this territory, so none appear here.
Ohio's utility commission runs Energy Choice Ohio, where offers for this territory appear beside the Standard Service Offer. Because an offer covers generation alone, the like-for-like comparison is with the generation portion of the Standard Service Offer; the 16.22¢ per kWh1 average above bundles delivery in and cannot be compared with an offer directly. The Ohio retail choice guide walks through it.
Smaller bills because homes use less
The Illuminating Company's default-service homes paid $103.09 a month in 2025, against $131.45 at Ohio Edison, $127.14 at Toledo Edison, $154.05 at Duke Energy Ohio, $158.08 at AES Ohio and $179.10 at AEP Ohio. Prices per kWh were much closer than that: 16.22¢ per kWh here, 16.01¢ per kWh at Ohio Edison and 16.49¢ per kWh at Toledo Edison. The difference is consumption. The Illuminating Company's homes used 636 kWh a month, against 821 kWh at Ohio Edison, 771 kWh at Toledo Edison, 915 kWh at Duke Energy Ohio, 944 kWh at AEP Ohio and 980 kWh1 at AES Ohio. The statewide residential average was 874 kWh a month and $147.745 on the bill, across all providers.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average monthly residential use |
|---|---|
| The Illuminating Company (OH) | 636 |
| Toledo Edison (OH) | 771 |
| Ohio Edison (OH) | 821 |
| Duke Energy Ohio (OH) | 915 |
| AEP Ohio (OH) | 944 |
| AES Ohio (OH) | 980 |
The two groups on its wires did not use the same amount: homes buying from a supplier averaged 708 kWh a month in 2025, more than the 636 kWh1 of default-service homes. EIA's tables do not say who the remaining default-service customers are, so the gap is a measured difference, not an explanation.
2025 down, 2026 up
From 2024 to 2025 the default-service average fell 3.2%, from 16.76¢ per kWh to 16.22¢ per kWh, while Ohio's residential average across all providers rose 5.7%6. The bill barely moved (−0.2%) because use per home went up from 616 kWh3 to 636 kWh1 a month.
EIA's monthly survey shows the direction reversing. The 12-month window ending August 2026 averaged 18.38¢ per kWh, above both annual figures and level with Ohio's all-provider 12-month average of 18.41¢ per kWh. August 2026 came in at 20.84¢ per kWh, +26.3% on August 2025. On the same comparison Ohio Edison's average changed +18.1%, Toledo Edison's +10.2%2 and Ohio's residential average across all providers +10.4%4. Every 2026 month is a preliminary estimate that EIA will revise.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). Bundled (default-service) customers only.
Show the numbers
| Month | The Illuminating Company (¢/kWh) | kWh per customer | Bill per customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 15.89¢ | 817 | $129.86 |
| February 2025 | 15.21¢ | 710 | $107.98 |
| March 2025 | 15.22¢ | 577 | $87.79 |
| April 2025 | 14.67¢ | 514 | $75.39 |
| May 2025 | 14.96¢ | 440 | $65.88 |
| June 2025 | 17.59¢ | 674 | $118.58 |
| July 2025 | 16.82¢ | 859 | $144.40 |
| August 2025 | 16.50¢ | 760 | $125.46 |
| September 2025 | 15.71¢ | 461 | $72.47 |
| October 2025 | 17.13¢ | 475 | $81.32 |
| November 2025 | 17.15¢ | 607 | $104.02 |
| December 2025 | 16.67¢ | 738 | $122.98 |
| January 2026 | 16.91¢ | 796 | $134.59 |
| February 2026 | 16.06¢ | 753 | $120.98 |
| March 2026 | 18.57¢ | 550 | $102.21 |
| April 2026 | 19.46¢ | 462 | $89.82 |
| May 2026 | 19.70¢ | 472 | $92.99 |
| June 2026 | 20.80¢ | 691 | $143.63 |
| July 2026 | 20.75¢ | 829 | $172.11 |
| August 2026 | 20.84¢ | 807 | $168.22 |
The survey records prices, not reasons. One regional factor is documented: The Illuminating Company sits in the PJM1 grid region, where, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's review of retail price trends, higher capacity payments lifted wholesale costs by 0.9¢ per kWh on average in 2025 and were expected to add 0.6¢ per kWh7 more in 2026. Those are PJM-wide estimates; none is specific to this utility. Its rates are set in proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and our guide to rate increases traces how an approved change shows up on a bill.
A July peak
Default-service use per home was highest in July 2026, at 829 kWh with an average bill of $172.11, and lowest in September 2025, at 461 kWh and $72.47, over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026. Over the same period Ohio Edison's use peaked in January 2026 and AEP Ohio's in January 20262: a winter peak that The Illuminating Company's default-service homes did not show.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.
Show the numbers
| Month | kWh per customer | Bill per customer | ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 461 | $72.47 | 15.71¢ |
| October 2025 | 475 | $81.32 | 17.13¢ |
| November 2025 | 607 | $104.02 | 17.15¢ |
| December 2025 | 738 | $122.98 | 16.67¢ |
| January 2026 | 796 | $134.59 | 16.91¢ |
| February 2026 | 753 | $120.98 | 16.06¢ |
| March 2026 | 550 | $102.21 | 18.57¢ |
| April 2026 | 462 | $89.82 | 19.46¢ |
| May 2026 | 472 | $92.99 | 19.70¢ |
| June 2026 | 691 | $143.63 | 20.80¢ |
| July 2026 | 829 | $172.11 | 20.75¢ |
| August 2026 | 807 | $168.22 | 20.84¢ |
Outages, meters and solar
In 2025 the average customer was out of power for 195 minutes counting major event days, fewer than the Ohio average of 205 minutes, over 1.37 interruptions per customer. Leaving major event days out, the figure was 136 minutes, against 130 minutes8 statewide. Both measures follow IEEE 1366.
Source: EIA-861 2025, reliability. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | outage minutes per customer (all events) |
|---|---|
| Toledo Edison (OH) | 110 |
| AES Ohio (OH) | 168 |
| Duke Energy Ohio (OH) | 178 |
| The Illuminating Company (OH) | 195 |
| AEP Ohio (OH) | 221 |
| Ohio Edison (OH) | 244 |
By 2025, 50.0% of the utility's residential meters were smart (AMI) meters; the Ohio figure was 74.5%. Just 53 homes had joined its time-of-use program. EIA counted 3,006 rooftop solar systems on net metering, 22.3 megawatts in all, which works out to 4.49 per 1,000 residential customers. Our time-of-use guide shows what hourly pricing does to a bill.
Businesses and the FirstEnergy group
On default service, commercial accounts averaged 18.11¢ per kWh in 2025, more per kWh than homes, and $444.47 a month; industrial customers on default service paid an average of 12.37¢ per kWh. Most businesses buy supply elsewhere: The Illuminating Company billed 70,290 commercial accounts for delivery only, against 11,315 on default service, at an average of 7.05¢ per kWh1.
FirstEnergy owns 8 utilities with 100,000 or more residential customers in 5 states. Their 2025 default-service averages ranged from 13.10¢ per kWh at Potomac Edison (West Virginia) to 18.77¢ per kWh at FirstEnergy Pennsylvania; The Illuminating Company's 16.22¢ per kWh was below the group average of 17.34¢ per kWh1. The FirstEnergy page sets them side by side.
Counties served and help with bills
The Illuminating Company reported customers in 9 northeast Ohio counties for 2025: Ashtabula County, Cuyahoga County, Geauga County, Lake County, Lorain County, Medina County, Portage County, Summit County and Trumbull County10. None of these counties is served by it alone: in each, at least one other distribution utility also reports customers, so only the utility's own territory map settles a given street address. Cleveland, Akron or ZIP-code electricity prices do not exist in EIA's data, and none are given here.
Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 9 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.
Show the numbers
| County | Other utilities reporting service |
|---|---|
| Ashtabula County | Ohio Edison |
| Cuyahoga County | Ohio Edison, City of Cleveland |
| Geauga County | Ohio Edison |
| Lake County | City of Painesville |
| Lorain County | Ohio Edison, Lorain-Medina R E C, Firelands Electric Cooperative, City of Amherst, City of Oberlin, Village of Wellington, Village of Grafton |
| Medina County | Ohio Edison, Lorain-Medina R E C, City of Wadsworth, Seville Board of Public Affairs, Village of Lodi |
| Portage County | Ohio Edison |
| Summit County | AEP Ohio, Ohio Edison, City of Cuyahoga Falls, City of Wadsworth, City of Hudson |
| Trumbull County | Ohio Edison, City of Niles, City of Hubbard, City of Newton Falls |
For households behind on payments, Ohio received $181.2 million12 in federal energy assistance (LIHEAP) for fiscal 2026. The Ohio page lines up every utility in the state.
Questions about The Illuminating Company's prices
How much does The Illuminating Company charge per kWh?
EIA measures what customers paid, not tariff lines. Homes on its default service paid 18.38¢ per kWh over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 and 20.84¢ per kWh2 in August 20264, both preliminary for 2026 months; the full 2025 average was 16.22¢ per kWh1. Each figure divides everything those homes paid by everything they used, so fixed charges, delivery, generation and riders are all folded in.
How high is the typical Illuminating Company bill?
Default-service homes averaged $103.09 a month in 2025 on 636 kWh of use, almost unchanged from $103.263 in 2024. Over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 it averaged $116.362. A home that buys from a supplier paid The Illuminating Company $54.591 a month for delivery in 2025, and pays its supplier separately.
Are Illuminating Company prices going up in 2026?
Yes, in EIA's monthly data for default-service homes. Their average price in August 20264 was 20.84¢ per kWh, +26.3%2 on August 2025, after the 2025 annual average had fallen 3.2%1. 2026 figures are preliminary. Tariff changes need approval from the state's utility commission.
Is The Illuminating Company the same as Cleveland Electric Illuminating?
Yes. The Illuminating Company is the name used by The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, which reports to EIA under that legal name and belongs to FirstEnergy.
Does The Illuminating Company have a time-of-use rate?
One exists, but almost nobody uses it: EIA's 2025 meter survey lists a time-of-use program with 53 homes signed up, 0.0% of residential customers. 50.0%9 of its residential meters were advanced meters that year.
Related pages
Sources
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, average monthly bill by state; table Average_Bill_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Historical state data, annual sales, revenue and customers; table HS861 2010-.xlsx; 2010-2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Retail Electricity Price Trends and Drivers; table July 2026 update; 2025 data. eta-publications.lbl.gov
- EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
- HHS, LIHEAP funding releases to states; table FY2027 first release; FY2026 final; FY2027 first release (October 9, 2026); FY2026 total; released October 9, 2026. acf.gov
How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.